Women Can Get Command Posts In Non-combat Services

The Supreme Court has now said that women officers can get command posts in non-combat services like NCC and Sainik schools. The Apex Court announced this one day after the Centre’s assertion on physiological limitations of women officers and changed battlefield scenario as reasons for not granting them command posts in the Army. The SC listened to various grounds raised by the Centre for convincing the court that women officers are not fit for command posts.

Some Takeaways:

• A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi said battlefield and combat operation is a very small portion of Army services. They further added there are other areas within the army where women officers can take up command posts.
• Advocate Meenakshi Lekhi represented the women officers. She said that the prime minister in 2018 announced a permanent commission for women officers in other branches of the armed forces, apart from legal and education.
• Senior advocate R Balasubramanian represented the centre. He said the government agrees for permanent commission (PC) to women officers who have served up to 14 years.

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“If you have the will and change of mindset, it can be done."

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi said battlefield and combat operation is a very small portion of the services. They further added there are other areas within the army where women officers can take up command posts. The bench said, “If you have the will and change of mindset, it can be done."

The court further said that battlefield rigour is not there in NCC and Sainik schools so women can have a commanding post there. Advocate Meenakshi Lekhi represented the women officers. She said that the prime minister in 2018 had announced a permanent commission for women officers in other branches of the armed forces, apart from legal and education.

Senior advocate R Balasubramanian represented the centre. He said the government agrees for permanent commission (PC) to women officers. This is for women who have served up to 14 years in the Army, but those above 14 years cannot be considered. He also said women with 14 years of service can serve up to 20 years without PC. He further added women with more than 20 years of service will then be released of there pension benefits.

“Why to discriminate them. You should screen them for their suitability and fitness and then make a decision."

Further, the court appreciated the manner in which Balasubramanian submitted the case.  But the court suggested that the government should not go against the plea of women officers for PC and all the officers entitled to it. The bench pointed that and all the entitled women officers would have got it if the High Court verdict had been implemented in 2010. The bench also said “Why to discriminate them. You should screen them for their suitability and fitness and then make a decision."

Read Also: Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth: First Woman To Qualify For Combat Missions

Mansi is an Intern at SheThePeople.TV