Govt need to change mindset to allow women command Army posts: SC

Indian female officers vs centre
File image of Indian female officers
Indian female officers vs centre
File image of Indian female officers

Speaking on the matter of Centre citing “physical” and “physiological limitations” as challenges for women officers to meet the high level of demands of service in Army, the Supreme Court has said if there is a “administrative will” and “change of mindset” on the part of the government, then women officers could be allocated command posts in the Army. The Supreme court mentioned many other services which includes combat operations where women could be indulged in.

SC bench looking into this matter includes Justices D Y Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi and they said that the government has to look at the matter “very differently” than the previous occasions.

SC was hearing an appeal by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) against the March 2010 judgement of the Delhi High Court which had directed the Navy to grant permanent commission to all its women officers on short service commission. The Supreme court assured that it would look into the issue associated to command posts for women officers in Air Force and Navy on February 11.

In a note from a report, the Centre share its thoughts to the SC that “Composition of male officers, predominantly drawn from rural background, with prevailing societal norms, troops are not yet mentally schooled to accept women officers in command of units.”

The Centre earlier had informed the apex court that “motherhood, child care, psychological limitations” are some important factors which have a paramount say on employment of women officers in the Army.

However, the apex court insisted that if the Centre could open up its mindset a bit then women officers could be “given command posts in the Army as there are many other services in addition to combat operations where women could be accommodated”.

Advertisement

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here