39 Women Army Officers to Get Permanent Commission, SC Verdict

By: WE Staff | Friday, 22 October 2021

After winning a legal battle in the Supreme Court, thirty-nine women Army Officers have got Permanent Commission which ordered the government to ensure their new service status is granted within seven working days.

A Permanent Commission means a career in the army till retirement. Short Service Commission is for 10 years and at the end of 10 years, the officers have the option of either leaving or opting for Permanent Commission.

A total of 71 women Short Service Commission officers had gone to the Supreme Court seeking Permanent Commission.

The centre told the court that of the 71 officers, 39 were found eligible for Permanent Commission, seven were medically unfit and 25 had “issues of discipline.”

Also, the Supreme Court directed the centre to give a detailed report regarding the matter.

Earlier on October 1, the court had told the government not to relieve any of the officers from service.

A two-judge bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice DY Chandrachud was hearing the matter.

Senior lawyers V Mohana, Huzefa Ahmadi and Meenakshi Arora had told the court that their disqualification was against the Supreme Court’s judgement in March when it directed the Indian Army to grant Permanent Commission to all women Short Service Commission officers who met the criteria.

To complete the process, the government had three months.

The army’s evaluation criteria for granting Permanent Commission to women officers were “systematically discriminated against them”, the Supreme Court had said at the time.