New Delhi: Rejecting the centre’s plea against the Delhi High Court order, the Supreme Court of India on Monday ordered Indian Army to grant permanent commission to Women regardless of their service except in combat roles.
Pulling up the centre for not complying the High Court as well as the Supreme court orders, the apex court has also said that exclusion of women officers from the Army is against the Article-14 of the constitution and unjustified.
In 2010 the Delhi high court had held that short service commissioned Women officers in the Army and Air Force, who had applied for permanent commission are entitled to Permanent Commission. The government of India had challenged this order in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court bench comprising of Justices D.Y.Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi has announced this verdict. In its verdict, the court has also held that change of mindset is required on part of the government also to end gender discrimination in the Armed Forces. SC has also criticized the 2019 policy formulated by the Ministry of Defence whereby permanent commission is allowed only on certain fields and certain classes of women based on their years of service.
In a note to the Supreme Court, the government of India had pointed out several issues, including “physical prowess” and “physiological limitations”, as challenges for women officers to meet the exigencies of service in Army.
However, the Women officers have opposed the grounds raised by the government in the court. In their submission, the women officers had said that the grounds raised by the government are completely contrary to the demonstrated records of the case, where Women Officers have been working to the best of their capabilities since the last 27-28 years.”
(With inputs from LiveLaw)