In a bold move against entrenched gender disparities, Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has directly appealed to LG VK Saxena via letter. The target: the Directorate of Education’s practice of maintaining dual seniority lists—one for men, one for women—that systematically disadvantages female educators.

Gupta’s correspondence, sent Thursday, includes a January 26, 2025, representation from Udita Society for Welfare of Teachers President Niti Bharara Oberoi. It lays bare how this policy delays women’s promotions to key positions such as Post Graduate Teachers (PGT), Vice Principals, and Principals, even as men advance rapidly.

The controversy has legs in court—the Delhi High Court is seized of the matter. On May 1, 2025, the department’s lawyer informed the bench that unifying the lists was on the table. The LG’s office echoed this, urging consultation with the government standing counsel and stakeholders for a thorough review and merger.

Despite these nods toward reform, the Directorate pushes ahead with promotions based on the segregated lists, notably from PGT to Vice Principal. This defiance, Gupta argues, robs women of rightful opportunities and perpetuates inequality.

His demand is unequivocal: issue binding instructions to end gender-based discrimination forthwith. No promotions should proceed on split lists until a proper integration is complete. Gupta emphasizes that departmental foot-dragging must not erode women’s entitlements.

As Delhi’s education workforce watches closely, this intervention could catalyze real change. It highlights the need for vigilant oversight to ensure policies align with constitutional guarantees of equality, potentially reshaping promotion practices for thousands of teachers.