Context: Recently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued the formal Government Sanction Letter for grant of Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Army.

• The Supreme Court in February 2020 had given a verdict that directed the government that women officers be granted PC and command postings in all services other than combat.

Background

• The male SSC officers could opt for permanent commission at the end of 10 years of service, this option was not available to women officers. They were, thus, kept out of any command appointment, and could not qualify for a government pension, which starts only after 20 years of service as an officer.
• The case was first filed in the Delhi High Court by women officers in 2003 and had received a favourable order in 2010. But the order was never implemented and was challenged in the Supreme Court by the government.
• In its appeal, the government cited “physical” and “physiological limitations” in granting command positions to women officers, to which the Supreme Court ruled that there was a need for an administrative will and change of mindset.
• The Apex Court ruled that an absolute bar on women seeking criteria or command appointments would violate the equality under Article 14 of the Constitution.

Key highlights of Sanction letter

• The order specifies the grant of PC to SSC women officers in all the 10 streams of the Army in which they presently serve are as follows: the Army Air Defence (AAD), Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME), Army Service Corps (ASC), Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), and Intelligence Corps.
• They are already eligible for PC in the Judge and Advocate General (JAG) and Army Educational Corps (AEC) branches.
• In anticipation, the Army Headquarters had set in motion a series of preparatory actions for the conduct of the Permanent Commission Selection Board for affected women officers.
• The Selection Board will be scheduled as soon as all affected Short Service Commissioned (SSC) women officers exercise their option and complete requisite documentation.

Status of Women in Armed Forces

• Till now the percentage of women in the Indian Army was only 3.89 per cent, Navy 6.7 per cent and Air Force 13.28 per cent, excluding the medical corps, dental corps and Military Nursing Service.
• The entry of women in the Army till now has only been through Short Service Commission (SSC) but till now they could not serve beyond 14 years, however, there were some who continued on extensions but were still not given the permanent commission.
• There are over 300 women officers who are serving for more than 14 years on the extension.

Present Scenario in 3 services

• The ministry had taken a decision to allow permanent commissioning of women in streams like signals, engineering, army aviation, army air defence and electronics and mechanical last year.
• The women officers recruited through the SSC in the Indian Air Forces have the option of seeking a permanent commission in all streams except the flying branch. 
• The Navy has allowed the permanent commission of women in a host of departments such as logistics, naval designing, air traffic control, engineering and legal.

Implications of this move

• The Government has now granted permanent commission to Short Service Commissioned (SSC) Women Officers in all ten streams of the Indian Army.
• This decision will allow women officers to be eligible to occupy all the command appointments at par with male officers which would allow promotions to higher ranks and also grants pension benefits.
• However, the women will not be allowed to join main combat arms like infantry, mechanized infantry, artillery and armoured corps in the Army.

Challenges in implementation of Permanent Commission for Women in Indian Army

• The measures to implement the apex court’s order have been tardy, fragmented and discriminatory.
• There is very little effort to alleviate the fears, apprehensions and vulnerabilities of the serving women officers and almost nothing to guarantee them a favourable future.
• The career, as well as the future, of these women officers continues to hang on thin strings without successfully implementing Permanent Commission for Women.
• There is reluctance on the part of the male military establishment to view gender issues fairly and act expeditiously.
• A delayed and insouciant response from the Indian Army will only add to the woes of the women officers who have waited long enough to get their due.

Road Ahead

• With the order in force, women officers will now be eligible to occupy all the command appointments, at par with male officers, which would open avenues for further promotions to higher ranks for them.
• Women were being kept out of command posts on the reasoning that the higher rank and file will have problems with women as commanding officers. Thus, changes have to take place in the culture, norms and values of not only the rank and file of the Army but also that of society at large. The responsibility to usher these changes lies with the senior military and political leadership.
• It is the right of every woman to pursue a career of her choice and reach the top. Equality is a constitutional guarantee.