Another Win For Women Officers, 577 Of Them Granted Permanent Commission After SC Warning

Two weeks after the Supreme Court cautioned the Indian Army of contempt, it has granted permanent commission to 577 of its women officers.

The Ministry of Defence informed the Parliament that as many as 577 women officers have been granted permanent commission since the Supreme Court verdict in Feb, 2020.

Agency

63 eligible Women Officers have been granted permanent commission as of November 25, 2021 in compliance with the judgment of the Hon¡¯ble Supreme Court,¡± Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhat said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

What it means

The permanent commission to more women officers will further pave the way for women getting larger roles in the Army and also to hold command positions.

Women officers still cannot serve in infantry, artillery and armoured corps¡ªcombat wings deployed at the most forward locations facing adversary situations.

What has changed

Agency

The Army has also tweaked its policy on issues like training, physical endurance and postings and service courses to bring about equilibrium in service conditions for male and female officers after the Supreme Court verdict. Entry of women into the Army till now has only been through Short Service Commission (SSC) and a majority can not serve beyond 14 years. However, there were some who continued on extensions but were still not given permanent commission.

Last month, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to issue orders granting PC to 39 Women Short Service Commission (SSC) Officers in the Army in seven working days. The court had also asked the Centre to furnish the details of 25 officers with reasons, who were not considered for PC.

Rejections in the past

Earlier, the Bench had asked the Centre to file an affidavit explaining why 72 women SSC officers had been rejected from the grant of PC. The Centre informed the apex court that after re-examining the case of each 72 women SSC officers, it found that 39 officers can be considered for PC.

Ministry of Defence informed

One officer has decided to quit, seven have been found medically unfit and 25 officers cannot be granted PC as they have adverse ACR reports of indiscipline and disobedience and poor operational report, Centre had told the Bench.

The women officers earlier this year had approached the court alleging that the SC's March 25 order was not considered and all 72 of them were rejected from consideration for the PC.

Order that changed it

In its March 25 order, the apex court had directed the Army to consider granting PC to the women Short Service Commission Officers subject to their obtaining 60% marks in the assessment subjects, being found fit on medical criteria and having received disciplinary and vigilance clearances.

On February 17 last year, the top court had directed that women officers in the Army be granted a permanent commission, rejecting the Centre's stand of their physiological limitations as being based on "sex stereotypes" and "gender discrimination against women".

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