According to a complaint filed by Mumtazben Ajmeri, she had joined the state constabulary in 1999 and was promoted as head constable in 2004. In April 2008, she was further promoted as ASI.

As per rules, only those with graduation qualification or holding the post of ASI are qualified to become sub inspectors (SIs). As she had become an ASI, she was eligible to appear at the examination for recruitment as SI conducted by the Gujarat Public Service Commission (GPSC).

On January 21, 2009, she filled up the form for the examinations along with her six colleagues in the Ahmedabad rural district. However, Mumtazben and her colleagues were demoted back to constables by the IG and the SP on the ground that they were promoted on the basis of seniority and not on merit. The officials said the new promotion policy was based on merit and not on seniority.

Mumtazben and her colleagues subsequently moved the court for seeking justice.