SC Grants Permanent Commission For Serving Women Officers In All Eligible Branches Of Indian Navy

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (17 March) allowed permanent commission to serving women officers in Indian Navy in all eligible branches and directed the Centre to comply with its order within three months.

The top court said that there can't be any discrimination citing physiological conditions, etc. The order will enable women officers for eligible permanent commission in ATC & Logistics too, apart from Education.

The apex court said that women can sail with the same efficiency as male officers and there should be no discrimination. The court observed that performance at work and dedication are the only answer to stereotypes within the Navy. The bench said injustice cannot be meted out to women officers in the Navy and upheld the Delhi High Court judgment.

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud said gender discrimination cannot be permitted with woman officers in Navy after statutory bar was lifted by Centre to allow their entry in the force through policy decision in 1991 and 1998.

"Denial of permanent commission to SSC women in Navy who have served the nation is a grave miscarriage of justice", Justice Chandrachud, reading out the operative part of the judgment, stated, reports Live Law.

In the mirror image of his judgment granting permanent commission to women officers in non-combat posts, Justice Chandrachud said equality has to be the hallmark of armed forces and women can't be deprived of permanent commission in Navy.

It should be noted that the same bench had on 17 February delivered a judgment favouring the extension of the Permanent Commission for women in the Indian Army.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)