SC verdict on permanent Commission to Women Officers is ‘enabling’, says Army Chief

On Thursday, Army Chief General MM Naravane said the force doesn't discriminate on the basis of gender & that the Apex Court decision granting permanent commission to women officers was “enabling”, the news agency reported.

MM Naravane told reporters that “Indian Army does not discriminate any soldier based on religion, caste, creed, or even gender".

“The outlook of the Indian Army has been throughout like this & that is why we started inducting women officers as early as in 1993," he added.

Army Chief further said that “We found the Supreme Court judgment on permanent commissioning of women is very enabling".

He added that “I must assure that everybody in the Indian Army including women officers will be given equal opportunity to contribute to the nation as also progress in their careers.”

Mr Naravane said that the Supreme Court’s Judgement gave clarity & purpose to employ officers for better efficiency of the organisation. He said that letters were being sent to women officers asking whether they would prefer permanent commission in the Army.

On Monday, the Top Court ordered the Centre to grant permanent commission to women officers in the Indian Army, respecting the 2010 order of the High Court of Delhi in this regard. The Court ruled that permanent commission must be given irrespective of the tenure of the women officers.

The order castigated the government for submitting a note portraying women as physiologically unfit for answering the “call beyond duty” of the Army. It said that the Centre’s note perpetuated sex stereotypes. “Arguments by the Centre founded on physical strength of men & women & grounds of motherhood, family etc violates equality,” the judgement said. “To cast aspersions on ability of women & their role & achievements in Army is an insult not only to women but also to Indian Army.”

On Tuesday, General Officer Commanding-in-chief of Western Command Lieutenant General RP Singh had said the Army welcomed the Supreme Court order but the time was not right to involve women in combat roles. In Dec 2018, Ex-Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat had alleged that women were not ready for combat roles because Army men, who he said largely came from small villages, wouldn't be willing to accept female commanders.

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