Female Army Officers Might Start Getting Permanent Commissions In The Next One Month

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up Centre and gave it one month's time for the implementation of its verdict on giving all serving SSC women officers permanent commission in the Army, PTI reported.

In a landmark judgement on February 17, the top court had ordered the Centre to grant permanent commission respecting a 2010 order of the Delhi High Court in this regard and had also ruled that women officers can get ¡°command and criteria¡± appointments in the Army on par with their male counterparts.

PTI

It had directed the Centre that within three months, all serving Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers have to be considered for Permanent Commissions (PCs) irrespective of them having crossed 14 years or, as the case may be, 20 years of service.

The court¡¯s latest order was passed on an application the Centre filed seeking six months¡¯ time to implement the verdict, citing the coronavirus pandemic. India has recorded more than 7 lakh cases and over 20,000 deaths due to COVID-19.

AP

But the Supreme Court has shot down the application. A bench headed by Justices D Y Chandrachud said that the Centre will have to comply with all its directions given in its verdict.

The Narendra Modi-led government had approved permanent commission for women in all 10 branches of the Army in March last year. Under the scheme, the women officers should indicate within four years of service whether they want permanent commission.

In 2010, the Delhi High Court had ruled that compulsory retirement for women officers after 14 years was unconstitutional in all three services of the military ¨C Army, Air Force and Navy.