Delhi : 557 Women Officers were given Permanent Commission after SC’s historic decision: Ajay Bhatt in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi : Central government told the House during the proceedings of the winter session on Monday that 557 short-service commissioned women officers have been granted permanent commission in the Indian Army following a Supreme Court order. There has been no delay in granting permanent commission to any woman. This information was given by the Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
During the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Defense Ajay Bhatt said that as per the decision of the Supreme Court, 63 eligible women officers have been given permanent commission till November 25, 2021. (Here he was referring to the order dated 12 November 2021). The Supreme Court on November 12 granted relief to the Army from contempt proceedings after the Army reversed its decision on denial of permanent commission to 72 women Short Service Commissioned officers. The Army, in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, said that it is ready to give all women officers who are eligible and against whom no disciplinary action has been taken or is pending. Women officers had filed a petition in the Supreme Court.
Of the 72 women officers, 36 had filed contempt petitions in the apex court earlier this month. Which was heard by a bench of Justice Dhananjay Y Chandrachud and Justice AS Bopanna. These petitions contend that the Indian Army is in contempt of the apex court’s March 25 order which held that all women Short Service Commissioned officers who qualify with 60% qualification shall be medically fit. and have obtained disciplinary and vigilance clearances but they are yet to be cleared by the Army.
