Women can get command posts in non-combat services: SC

NEW DELHI: A day after the Centres assertion on physiological limitations of women officers and changed battlefield scenario as reasons for not granting them command posts in the Army, the Supreme Court on Wednesday told the government that there are many non-combat services like NCC and Sainik Schools in which they could be accommodated.
Responding to the various grounds raised by the Centre for convincing the court that women officers are not fit for command posts, a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi said battlefield and combat operation is a very small portion of Army services and even if it is assumed that women are less fit for combat roles, there are other areas within Army where women officers could be accommodated.
“If you have the will and change of mindset, it can be done,” the bench said. It said battlefield rigour is not there in giving command posting in NCC and running of Sainik Schools and the Centre can consider to incorporate women officers there.
Advocate Meenakshi Lekhi, who is pressing for command posting on behalf of a batch of women officers, told the bench that there was no lack of political will as the Prime Minister had in 2018 announced permanent commission for women officers in other branches of the armed forces, apart from legal and education. She said there is lack of administrative will.
Senior advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for the Centre, said the government is agreeable for permanent commission (PC) to women officers who have served up to 14 years in Army but those above 14 years cannot be considered. He said those above 14 years of service would be permitted to serve up to 20 years without PC and those above 20 years of service would be released with pensionary benefits.
The bench, however, said there was delay on the part of government to take a policy decision on PC as the Read More – Source

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