Resolve issue of permanent commission of women army officers: SC tells Centre

The Apex court stated that it cannot entertain the application of women officers complaining about non-implementation of court's order directing the women's permanent commission and asked the ASG to intervene in the matter and help them out.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the central government to have a meeting with the authorities to sort out the issues of women officers in the Army and Navy regarding their permanent commission in the forces.

The court said it cannot entertain the application of women officers who knocked on its door complaining about non-implementation of court's order directing women's permanent commission and asked the ASG to intervene in the matter and help them out.

"They are your own officers. They have served the Navy and the Army. Please try to sort it out with the authorities. Why push them into the litigation cycle again? They are in their years of retirement now. We won't entertain this, but as the ASG, you intervene. These women have served the nation. Why should they be made to go to AFT again? We don't want to set the wrong precedent but you instruct the authorities. Sit down with them and sort it out," the court told Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain.

READ:SC permits felling of over 4,100 trees in TTZ for new Mathura-Jhansi railway track

The bench comprising of Justices DY Chandrachud, Indira Bannerjee, and Sanjiv Khanna was hearing an application against the non-implementation of their March 2020 order wherein they had directed to grant permanent commission to women officers like their men counterparts. Allegedly, the order has not been implemented and the women are not getting pension as well.

The court observed that they cannot entertain the application as if they allow it, the moment a judgment is delivered, they will get applications to implement it.

The court asked the ASG to have a meeting and utilise his post to instruct the authorities so that issues are resolved. The court will hear the matter again after two weeks.