How's The Josh? High ma'am

Women in Indian Army

How's The Josh? High ma'am

It was 1990, when first-ever batch of female cadet joined Officer Training Academy, Chennai. After sometime, only available commission for women was SSC (Short Service Commission), means they could only pursue a carrier of 14 years in armed forces. Where as male officers can receive PC (Permanent Commission) just after five year.

In 12 March 2010,  Delhi high court gave a judgement allowing female officers to choose PC. But just after few months of verdict, Center moved to supreme court against the verdict with certain points.

Then in 2011, after a long legal battle, government allowed women officers to seek PC in judge advocate and educational branches of three services.

In May 2018, new government tells apex court to grant PC to female offices in several other services.

25 Feb 2019, PM Modi announced that now female officers can opt for PC in total 10 combat support arms/services including signals,engineers, army aviation, air defense, EME, army service corps, army ordnance corps & intelligence. But women with more than 14 years of service can't avail it.

17 Feb 2020, This time SC made it clear that female officers under SSC could opt for PC if they are in those non combat arms. And now women can also get to command posts or units.

Points given by government in 2010 (against the decision)

1. Way of life: 

“Profession of arms is not just a profession but a way of life beyond the call of duty” 

The above line was written in the appeal. We all are aware of life of Army personal. The attitude of serving nation at any cost sometimes also affects their family's emotion. Even in some cases Soldiers don't even get to see their family for years. So its mother who insure proper nourishment and education. Therefore motherhood and even prolonged absence due pregnancy are the challenges in front of females.

2.  Troops are not yet mentally schooled:

 “Composition of rank and file being male predominantly drawn from the rural background with prevailing societal norms, troops are not yet mentally schooled to accept women officers in command of units”. It explained that “a soldier relies heavily on his physical prowess to engage in combat”

3. Inherent physiological differences:

 “Officers have to lead from the front. They should be in prime physical condition to undertake combat tasks. Inherent physiological differences between men and women preclude equal physical performance resulting in lower physical standards. Physical capacity of women officers in the Indian Army remain a challenge for command of units”

4.Environmental and physiological realities of Army posting:

They also talked about harsh conditions e.g. difficult terrains, isolated posts and adverse climate conditions coupled with places with internal threats like North East and J&K. They said

“These conditions have a major bearing on the employment of women officers in light of their physiological conditions accentuated by the challenges of confinement, motherhood and childcare”

Points by Supreme Court: 

1. Sex Stereotype:

In the section “stereotypes and women in the armed forces” Court clearly lamented submissions by center related to pregnancy and motherhood considering it as a sex stereotype.

“The time has come for a realisation that women officers in the Army are not adjuncts to a male dominated establishment whose presence must be ‘tolerated’ within narrow confines,”

2. Equal opportunity:

Court also discussed argument based on physical strength and weakness in the “social context of marriage and family”. Saying that its against article 14 which brings equality before law. And all the  points given by Center can't deny women from pursuing PC in armed forces.