Srinagar, Aug. 7 -- "This Court also takes judicial notice of the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic constituted an extraordinary public health emergency, wherein employees across the spectrum were affected physically and psychologically," a bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal and Justice Rajesh Sekhri said while hearing a petition filed by a Senior Assistant in the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, challenging an order dated 24 November 2022, "whereby she was denied promotion to the post of the Head Assistant and superseded by her juniors."

"Many were absent from work not by choice, but due to circumstances beyond their control," the court said, adding, "To penalise an employee for absence during such a period, particularly when the leave was ...