557 women Army officers granted Permanent Commission, says Govt

Indian army has granted Permanent Commission to 557 Women Officers after Supreme Court judgment in February 2020, defence ministry informed Rajya Sabha on Monday.

To a question on how many of the 72 women officers were granted Permanent Commission who had approached Supreme Court : “63 eligible Women Officers have been granted Permanent Commission as on 25th November, 2021 in compliance of the judgment of the Supreme Court.”

Earlier this month

Supreme Court had spared Indian Army from contempt after it changed its position on denying permanent commission to 72 women short service commission officers. Army had accepted before apex court to grant permanent commission to all women officers who have qualified on merit and had no disciplinary or vigilance clearance pending against them.

“No delay has been made in granting Permanent Commission to any Women Officer,"” MoS defence Ajay Bhatt said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. The Supreme Court last year had directed that all serving women officers who have been recruited under the Short Service Commission (SSC) will have to be considered for Permanent Commission and holding of command in non-combat.

Thereafter, the defence ministry had issued a formal order to allow serving women officers to be eligible for permanent commission in eight additional streams.

Under SSC, women officers were initially taken for a period of five years, which was extendable up to 14 years. Permanent commissioning will allow them to serve till the age of retirement.