Congress welcomes SC relief to women Army officers challenging denial of permanent commission

The Congress on Saturday, 10 May, welcomed the Supreme Court's interim directive asking the Centre not to release from service Short Service Commission women Army officers who have challenged the denial of permanent commission to them, and asserted that it boosts the morale of women officers in the current environment.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress' 24, Akbar Road office in New Delhi, Congress leader and Wing Commander (retd) Anuma Acharya said that in the current situation in the country, "we reiterate our commitment towards the Indian Armed Forces and salute their valour and courage".

"The central government had said that only 250 short service commission officers can be given permanent commission every year. It is very important to have a young cadre of officers in the army.

"On this, the Supreme Court said that the experienced women officers are also very important for the guidance and mental strength of the young soldiers," she said.

This decision of the Supreme Court is a ray of hope for women officers, Acharya said.

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre not to release from service the Short Service Commission women Army officers. The top court called for not bringing the morale down of the women army officers in "the prevailing situation".

The decision of the Supreme Court gives a lot of relief and boosts the morale of women officers in the current environment of the country, she said.

"Policies changed continuously after 2006. Two and a half years ago, women also got entry in the army through the NDA. Now we can imagine that after 30 years from today, we will see one or more women as the army chief," Acharya said.

Now the decision of the Supreme Court has come that women officers should be retained till the next hearing is held in August, she said.

"We welcome this decision of the Supreme Court. We are with the army of our country. We respect all the people of the army who keep the tricolour above themselves. We salute the bravery of every soldier," Acharya said.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh, which posted a batch of pleas filed by 69 officers for hearing in August, said they should not be released till the next hearing.

"In the prevailing situation, let's not bring their morale down. They are brilliant officers, you can use their services somewhere else. This is not the time that they be asked to roam around in the Supreme Court. They have a better place to be and serve the country," justice Kant said.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, said it was an administrative decision based on a policy to keep the armed forces young.

She urged the top court not to grant any stay on their release and said the Indian Army needed young officers and every year, only 250 personnel were granted permanent commission.

Senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy, appearing for Colonel Geeta Sharma, referred to the case of Colonel Sofia Qureshi, one of the two women officers who had briefed the media on the Operation Sindoor on 7 and 8 May.

Guruswamy said Colonel Qureshi had to approach this court for a similar relief related to permanent commission and now she has made the country proud.

The bench, without commenting much on the submission, said the case before the top court was purely a legal one, having nothing to do with the achievements of the officers.

In its 17 February 2020, the top court said absolute exclusion of women from all positions, except staff assignments, in the Army was indefensible and their blanket non-consideration for command appointments without any justification couldn't be sustained in law.

The apex court, which allowed permanent commission (PC) to women officers in the Army, said an absolute prohibition of women Short Service Commission officers to obtain anything but staff appointments evidently did not fulfil the purpose of granting PC as a means of career advancement in the Army.

The top court also referred to the distinctions achieved by women officers, and put out an example of Col Qureshi's achievements. Since the 2020 verdict, the top court has passed several orders on the issue of permanent commission to women officers in the Armed Forces and similar orders were passed in the case of the Navy, Indian Air Force and the Coast Guard.