Soon after the Supreme Court cautioned the Indian Army of contempt, the Central government on Friday assured it’ll roll out Permanent Commission option to all eligible women Army officers. During the hearing, the Central government told the SC that a swift decision will be made within 10 days with regard to 11 women Army officers who approached SC for Permanent Commission.
According to a Times of India report, the court also asked the government to be a “model employer” and should not discriminate among its employees, while adding that monetary benefits should be given to all who were employed at the same time and belong to the same cadre.
Last month, the court had directed the Centre to issue grant PC to 39 women and asked the Centre to present the details of 25 officers who were denied the commission with reasons.
The issues were raised by the Women Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs). The women officers had approached the court alleging that the March 25 order of the court, which directed the army to consider granting PC to SSCOs, was not considered and 72 officers were rejected from the consideration for PC.
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.
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”.
The SC had directed that within three months, all serving SSC women officers have to be considered for PCs irrespective of them having crossed 14 years or, as the case may be, 20 years of service.
