Stories
Why Punish 23.19 Crore Men for One Employee's Mistake? A1 Sports World CEO's Decision Sparks Debate.
N
News18•25-09-2026, 16:25
Why Punish 23.19 Crore Men for One Employee's Mistake? A1 Sports World CEO's Decision Sparks Debate.
- •Kartik Shenoy, CEO of Bengaluru-based A1 Sports World, announced the company would no longer hire male candidates from UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, and MP.
- •Shenoy cited a former employee's alleged misconduct with female colleagues as the reason, sparking a social media debate.
- •The decision effectively questions approximately 23.19 crore men, representing the total male population of these four states.
- •While Articles 16 and 19 of the Constitution primarily relate to public employment, private companies are not exempt from laws against discrimination.
- •Workplace safety for women is crucial, but punishing an entire region's men for one individual's alleged mistake is not the solution; robust background checks and processes are better.
Key Questions Answered
CEO Kartik Shenoy cited an incident involving a former employee from North India who allegedly misbehaved with and coerced female employees at the Bengaluru-based sports company.
Based on the 2011 census, the total population across those four states included approximately 23.19 million men, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for about 10.45 crore, Bihar for 5.43 crore, Rajasthan for 3.56 crore, and Madhya Pradesh for 3.76 crore.
Discussions involve constitutional articles like Article 16 regarding state employment discrimination and Article 19 regarding freedoms, alongside labor codes, Section 166 of the Companies Act 2013, and the POSH Act 2013 governing workplace safety and sexual harassment.
