SC Asks Indian Army To Explain Why 72 Women Officers Were Rejected For Permanent Commission

Women Officers For Permanent Commission: The Supreme Court on Friday demanded an explanation from Indian Army on why 72 women Short Service Commission Officers were denied Permanent Commission. The Indian Army is supposed to submit an affidavit as response.

A Bench headed by Justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna restricted the army to release the 72 women officers who were not considered for Permanent Commission until further hearing of the matter. The Indian Army has been asked to submit its response within a week explaining the reason why the women officers were not considered for the service. The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for October 8.

The ruling came when the Supreme Court bench was hearing a set of petitions submitted by women officers. The officers had alleged that even after the Supreme Court's judgement of March 25, all 72 of them were rejected and were not considered for the Permanent Commission.

On March 25, the apex court had ruled that the Army will consider granting Permanent Commission to women officers of Short Service Commission considering the score 60 per cent marks in subjects and are medically fit. They were also to get disciplinary and vigilance clearances.

The legal representatives of the said women officers informed court that even after clearing all the three criteria specified by the top court, they were discharged from services. The court in its March order had said that criteria set the Army to grant Permanent Commission aimed at "systematic discrimination" causing " economic and psychological harm.

In February last year, the Supreme Court had given a landmark judgement according which women officers were supposed to be considered for Permanent Commission. The verdict came after the court rejected Centre's stand which according to the apex court were based on " gender discrimination against women."
On February 17 last year, in a landmark verdict, the apex court had directed that women officers in the army be granted permanent commission. It had rejected the Centre's stand of their physiological limitations as being based on "sex stereotypes" and "gender discrimination against women".