It was in March 2010 that the Delhi High Court struck a definitive blow for the claim of women to be granted permanent commission in India's armed forces beyond the traditional medical branches. Three years down the line, as the matter remains on appeal before the Supreme Court for final orders, the armed forces seem to be still holding themselves back as one man from going ahead wholeheartedly to do the just, fair and right thing. Following the High Court order, the Navy and the Air Force agreed to grant women permanent commission posts, but the Army rushed to the Supreme Court to challenge the decision on the grounds that such a step could create operational difficulties. Even if one were to accept the argument that in the Indian context, women are not yet ready for full-combat roles — some armed forces elsewhere have gone the distance — there are surely a number of other areas in which women could contribute their potential. Defence Minister A.K. Antony has time and again gone on record that he favours the opening up of more and more streams of the armed forces to women. But that policy prescription seems to remain largely on paper and the needed momentum has not been built up. Just recently, he merely restated that Short Service Commission women officers were eligible to join the Judge Advocate General branch, the Army Education Corps and corresponding branches in the Navy, as naval instructors, and the Air Force, in the accounts branch. But he remained silent on the demand for a categorical across-the-board decision to recognise women's capabilities and their commitment to a full-fledged career, on a par with men, in the different branches of the three services.
As the Delhi High Court pointed out in 2010, grant of permanent commission without any caveats whatsoever is not “charity being sought by women officers but enforcement of their constitutional rights.” The court, rightly enough, found the situation to be discriminatory. At last count (November 2011) the Army had just 1,055 women short service commission officers, while the Air Force had 936 — and both figures were lower than in the previous year. The number for the Navy, a mere 288, was marginally higher than in the previous year. There is a case not only to step up these, but also to increase the overall percentage of women at all levels of the armed forces. Rather than having to be prodded every step of the way, the government should show the requisite level of sensitivity on the issue of granting permanent commission to women officers in more non-combat streams and end a patently iniquitous situation.
Keywords: Delhi High Court, India's armed forces, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Army Education Corps, Air Force
i feel this is a common problem of indian society..someone choose to
be different and the whole community turns against them...the only
problem here is that army is a men only career...they don't wanna let
that credit slip out of their hands nor can they bear seeing women
cadets marching across nda ground..i feel that such decisions should
be made quickly..all these years women have been suffering in the
armed forces must b'coz people feel that it's not a profession meant
for them...they are recruited for 14 years and then they have to
retire without any pension benefits...in what way can anyone support
this?...this is the most public form of gender discrimination.
Women have the potential to compete and excel with men.In certain areas they may outperform men.Having said that,a permanent commission in the Army by itself doen not make them equal to men.Why can't the activists who shout from roof top on gender equality cannot speak about career for women in the coal Minning,deep sea fishing and merchant navy?While exceptions may be there,it must be accepted that there is physical limitation to a women capabilities.Serving the Army in combat positions is no easy task.We have hostile neighbours all around Pakistan,China,Bangladesh and lastly Sri Lanka.Look at the way Srilanka is capturing,attacking and injuring innconent fisherman from Tamilnadu. Few years ago BSF Jawans were captured killed by Bangladesh Rifles.The Indian jawans were killed,faces disfigured and their genitals mutilated. In India we have women judges, pilots,doctors, bankers,civil servants and parliamentarians. Denying permanent commission in the Army alone is not discriminatory.
I don't deny the fact that women have immense power and courage in
themselves but this is not only the thing to be considered to grant a
permanent posts in army. As said before they can prove their potential
and capabilities in various other fields more better.
If women are being employed as the permanent officials in our army
then it is only going to add pressure to the expenditures of the army
bcoz
1. There would be not enough women to enter and qualify in this field
2. They will need separate accomodation facilities and other things
to serve in the army.
Apart from this things always there will be problems regarding the
maintainance of their chastity and not be denied fact that they are
physically weaker than men.
It is ignorance and stupidity to think that women cannot match up to men's standards and therefore must not be granted permanent commission. How can you know a person's capabilities without testing their capabilities? Just like how some men may not get qualified for the armed services, some women too may not -- but hundred percent surely there will be women who are physically and mentally capable of serving in the armed forces -- let such women get equal opportunities and let them do the nation proud. Other nations have done it and as a nation which claims no gender-based discrimination, India too must follow that path.
It depends on what women wants. If they are confident they can cope up with that they should not be denied. Contrary to the remark of someone life among civilians are not very safe for women. In the western countries they accept this fact but we are under illusion.
I am surprised to see the comments that favor such discrimination & support the stand that women should not be granted permanent commission in the forces as they are vulnerable & weak. My only argument is that: If the authorities consider women to be at par with men and inducted into the forces- serve the country for the short service commission period - how the same women become incapable to serve the country as soon as the ssc period expires. The same women are asked to leave because they suddenly realize their weakness.. The officer after 10 years suddenly does not retain any qualities of an officer & retains only their womanly attributes!! How Hippocratic can we be & for how long... SC please think twice before giving the judgement.
Reluctance to induct ladies into Army cadre is retrograde and is a manifestation of male chauvinism. The women can manage the military rigours with ease and tact. The hands that rock the cradle can fire the missile also. The important thing is that they should be given the opportunity to prove their prowess and robustness.
Chennaivaasi - what makes you think indian women are delicate. Its due to the patriarchal society that women have not been allowed to work outside till now. If their chastity is at stake, its due to men and not women themselves. And most Indian women have to deal with rude, leering, men everyday anyway, so I think we will do just fine with the enemies during a war while serving in the armed forces as well. No one has the right to make the decision for others.
As a veteran of two Indo-Pak wars, I had written an article in The Statesman on having a Women's Army Corps in our military establishment. The WAC would take over all administrative duties in our peace stations, releasing the incumbent men who can be deployed in the field areas. The article was very well received. The WAC would comprise only women to include the officer cadre and the rank and file and would be organised on the lines of a standard battalion. We somehow fail to appreciate that one of India's greatest assets is our women. They have excelled in multifarious disciplines both in the domestic scene as well as abroad. The reason for this 'failure' is the dominance of MCPs led by our parliamentarians who have not only passed disparaging remarks about our women aspiring to become MPs and MLAs, but have also blocked this avenue. Sadly, India's two most powerful women, the President and the UPA Chairperson are quiet.
It is comletely discriminatary to say that women can not do this or that.they can do anything,provided they can be given chance.biologically they r not in any way inferior than male gender. i opine that delhi Hc give a much awaited judgement. for this not only females but males also come forward to implement it.
The gender bias in our society is merely traditional. However, access to education and the progressive disappearance of taboos related to the fair sex have brought the women to the forefront in the socio-economic and political realm. The continued denial of the permanent commission in the Army for women is not in tune with the spirit of modernity. The women should be given the opportunity to prove their prowess and robustness without sidelining them, by categorising them as weaker section. The delay the Supreme Court shows in pronouncing a final verdict cannot be appreciated.
When women have successfully undertaken space travels, it is unreasonable to presume that they cannot perform well in the army cadre. The contrary thinking comes only from the emotional or sentimental concept we maintain about women.
Women should be given 33% reservation in armed forces If the same is not possible under law, constitution be suitably amended Also SC,ST,OBC etc.reservation be extended to defence forces as in case of any other government job or politics. It is high time we act for alleviation of problems of socially challenged masses and the better halves. A great leap forward by the courts .
Time is ripe for Indian govt. to permit lady officers to join prestigious Indian army commission as Indian lady is lagging no where behind.Indian lady has bought laurels in various departments and is serving country from years so need of hour to take this matter seriously.
I was just waiting eagerly for this article to be published in The Hindu.Personally i am not in favour of women getting permanent commission, not infringing their right to Life or Equality.No doubt the world has seen a reverse trend in terms of women occupying top slots at various MNCs and even in Bureaucratic setups but Armed forces is a vulnerable service.The outcome of women being deployed in sensitive zones and being taken as hostages by the enemy can be both moral lowering and ethically unacceptable.The other opinion that counterfeits the permanent commission for women would be the fact that after the supercession stage in the Army i.e. period between Lt Col and Col. most of the passion drains out and half the lady officers seek voluntary retirement causing officers shortage to the Army.At present they are 14,000 officers short and cant take this chance.
In April 1993, I was one among 25 women engineering officers, who comprised the first-ever batch of non-medical women officers to be commissioned into the IAF. In a few days time, on April 6, 2012, four of my batch mates who opted for extensions would have completed 20 years' service (including the 1-year antedate permissible for engineering officers), if they had not been forced to quit on completing 15 years in April 20008. However, they were indeed left in the lurch. It is unfortunate to note that the organization continues to use its resources to fight against these worthy, proven assets, instead of recognizing the logic of including these trained, ready and willing officers on par with the rest of the cadre.
In April 1993, I was one among 25 women engineering officers, who comprised the first-ever batch of non-medical women officers to be commissioned into the IAF. At that time, I hoped for just such a positive attitude from the Government of India, as you have rightly said in 'An Officer and a Lady', The Hindu, 26 March 2012. Out of genuine intent and interest, I had opted for the defense service, despite acquiring a post-graduate degree. IAF could have very well mentioned 'over-qualification' against my otherwise suitable candidature, but it did not. I went on to serve the organization for a period of six years at the end of which I applied for a permanent commission, and was not willing to settle for anything less. But the organization, besides refusing to grant me PC, also denied payment of admissible technical allowances for my PG qualification.
Delhi High Court's directive on the issue is impracticable. Women officers cannot be deployed on the war fronts in J & K or the North Eastern states. Of course the western countries have women serving on the war front. But they are physically as robust as men and they don't care about chastity or any physical demeaning harms done to them by the enemy in wars. Indian women are still soft and we Indians care for their honour and dignity. We do not want them die right in front of our eyes in battles. Living conditions on the front line are not conducive to women leading to unsavoury discipline issues. Women could be given permanent commission in the medical, educational, logistics branches of the armed forces as they could be deployed on peace stations. Women may talk big, could be ambitious, could be political leaders like some we have, judges, accountants, etc but they could not be front line army officers. That is the exact reason why the services are reluctant on the issue.
why dont these women demand reservation in jobs like rail drivers, butuchers , hangman in jails etc.its all money man
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