Denial of command assignment retrograde step: Women officers

NEW DELHI: Women officers have proven their mettle and courage under fire for nearly three decades, and there has never been an occasion of soldiers/men having refused or accepted the command of women, said the women officers in their written submission citing the Centre for delay in bringing the policy for grant of permanent commission to women officers. The written submissions, on behalf of the petitioners, filed by senior advocate Aishwarya Bhati, said, “The demonstrated fact is that the Women Officers have been serving in the 10 Combat Support Arms, for the last 27-28 years and have proven their mettle and courage under fire... To deny them command appointments would be an extremely retrograde step and will inflict irreparable injury to the dignity of these brave women.” A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Ajay Rastogi conducted the hearing petitions seeking permanent commission for women in the Army. The apex court has reserved its order on the matter. Moreover, they have been found suitable by the organization itself and have led platoons and companies of soldiers and men, both in peace locations as also hostile locations/operations, in the 10 Combat Support Arms. “There has never been any occasion of soldiers/men having refused or not accepted the command of women on account of their perceived ‘rural background, with prevailing societal norms’”, said the written submission filed in the Supreme Court. The Centre had informed the apex court that “motherhood, childcare, psychological limitations” are vital factors, which have a bearing on the employment of women officers in the Army. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had argued that lower physical standards of women, the composition of units that are entirely male mostly from rural background impact commander appointments. (IANS)

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