The Supreme Court has ruled that women officers in the armed forces must not face discrimination in assessments and career progression, and said eligible women should receive permanent commission and pension benefits.
Under the Short Service Commission (SSC), officers are appointed for 10 years, extendable up to 14 years. If they are not granted a Permanent Commission (PC) thereafter, they must exit service and do not receive pension benefits. Officers appointed under PC can serve until retirement and are entitled to promotions and pension.
A group of women officers approached the Supreme Court, arguing that the method used to evaluate their suitability for permanent commission was unfair. Hearing the matter, a bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant, along with Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and N. Kotiswar Singh, held that male officers can no longer assume permanent commission posts are reserved for them.
The court observed that women officers’ annual confidential reports were assessed casually and with a preconceived notion that they would never qualify for permanent commission, which affected their overall evaluation. It directed that women officers found eligible be treated as having completed 20 years of qualifying service, making them entitled to pension and all related benefits, including for those earlier declared ineligible.
The bench, however, said permanent commissions already granted through selection boards held in 2019, 2020 and 2021 will not be disturbed. It also struck down the annual cap of 250 permanent commissions for women as arbitrary and illegal, issuing directions by invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.
