Odishatv Bureau

New Delhi: In another major announcement, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed permanent commission to serving women officers in the Indian Navy in all eligible branches and directed the Centre to comply with its order within three months.

The top court said that there can't be any discrimination citing physiological conditions, etc. The order will enable women officers eligible for permanent commission in ATC & Logistics too, apart from Education.

The apex court said that women can sail with the same efficiency as male officers and there should be no discrimination. The court observed that performance at work and dedication are the only answer to stereotypes within the Navy. The bench said injustice cannot be meted out to women officers in Navy and upheld the Delhi High Court judgement.

A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said gender discrimination cannot be permitted with woman officers in Navy after statutory bar was lifted by Centre to allow their entry in the force through policy decision in 1991 and 1998.

In the mirror image of his judgment granting permanent commission to women officers in non-combat posts, Justice Chandrachud said equality has to be hallmark of armed forces and women can't be deprived of permanent commission in Navy.

On February 17, the top court declared that women officers shall be eligible for command posting in Army. SC ruled that women officers should get permanent commission in the Army and emphasized on the necessity to change the mindset to “put to end gender discrimination” in Armed forces.

Read: IAF Led In Giving Women Officers Permanent Commissions, Says Air Chief

It said that the Union Government's policy decision of 2019 to grant Permanent Commission to women Army Officers would apply to all female officers.

It will apply to any woman officer who opts for it, and on all those within the period of 14 years of service and beyond. “To cast aspersions on women based on gender is, in fact, an affront to the entire Army where men and women serve as equal soldiers,” said the court in a significant judgement on Monday.

You May Also Like: Every NDRF Battalion Will Soon Have An All-Women Unit- DG Satya Pradhan

The apex court then too granted three months time to Centre to implement this order. A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had said that there is no ground to deny women officers PC even if they have completed 14 years rules.

(IANS)

scrollToTop