Modi government permits Permanent Commission to women officers in Indian Army

In a big development on Thursday, Centre issued formal sanction letter for grant of Permament Commssion to women officers in Indian Army. This will ensure that women officers can shoulder greater responsiblities in organization. order specifically grants Permanent Commission to Short Service Commissioned women officers in all streams of Indian Army apart from existing streams of Judge and Advocate General (JAG) and Army Educational Corps (AEC).

This includes Army Air Defence (AAD), Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), and Intelligence Corps. All SSC women officers can exercise ir option following which Selection Board will be convened. Union government's latest step is in consonance with  Supreme Court's landmark verdict in February. 

Here is Indian Army's full statement: 

" government issued formal sanction letter for grant of Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in Indian Army, paving way for empowering women officers to shoulder larger roles in organisation. order specifies grant of PC to Short Service Commissioned (SSC) Women Officers in all ten streams of Indian Army i.e Army Air Defence (AAD), Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), and Intelligence Corps in addition to existing streams of Judge and Advocate General (JAG) and Army Educational Corps (AEC). ir Selection Board will be scheduled as soon as all affected SSC Women Officers exercise ir option and complete requisite documentation."

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SC verdict

On February 17, 2020, apex court directed Centre to grant Permanent Commission to women officers respecting a 2010 order of Delhi High Court. It also ruled that women officers are eligible to get "command and criteria" appointments in Indian Army on par with ir male counterparts. Moreover, court stressed that Permanent Commission shall be offered to all women officers irrespective of ir years of service.

reafter, it ordered Union government to implement judgment within three months. But Centre moved SC seeking 6 months' time to implement verdict, citing COVID-19 pandemic. On July 7, top court granted Union government a months' time for implementing its judgment. 

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