The Supreme Court has pronounced its verdict on the petition of women officers who were deprived of permanent commission in the army. The Supreme Court has upheld the Delhi High Court’s decision of granting permanent commission to Women officers in army. At the same time, the Supreme Court gave three months’ time to implement the decision. The Supreme Court’s decision will apply to all the wing except Combat Wing.

Centre’s appeal challenging the Delhi High Court’s ruling in 2010, for granting permanent commission to women officers in Army: Supreme Court says that the permanent commission will apply to all women officers in the Army in service, irrespective of their years of service. pic.twitter.com/7YcFADXqIc — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2020

The bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Ajay Rastogi, while giving the verdict, said that the appointment of women officers in the army is an evolutionary process.

The Supreme Court said that equality of opportunity for all citizens, gender justice will guide the participation of women in the army. The court rejected the views of the Center on the physical characteristics of women. The Supreme Court said that the Center should change the attitude and mindset. True equality has to be brought in the army. 30 per cent of women are actually deployed in combat zones.

Expressing displeasure over the central government, the Supreme Court said that stereotypes denying permanent commission represent prejudices. Women work shoulder to shoulder with men. The arguments of the Center are disturbing. Women army officers have increased the pride of the country. The Supreme Court gave the example of Captain Tanya Shergil.

All women officers in ten streams – Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronic and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, AOC, Intelligence, JAG and AEC will now be eligible for permanent commission.

Lawyers and BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi and Aishwarya Bhatti, who were representing the women officers, gave the example of IAF officer Minty Agarwal who had guided Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.