AIDWA welcomes the judgment of the Supreme Court that all women officers in short service commission are eligible for permanent commission and command posts in all branches of the Army irrespective of the number of years of service. Women in the Army have been fighting for this for the last ten years when the Delhi High Court granted them permanent commission in the Army. However, the government had refused to act on the Delhi High Court judgment.
The Supreme Court rightly dismissed the patriarchal contention of the Central government that women are physiologically unfit for command posts and that this would lead to a lowering of standards in the field. It also dismissed the notion that women are restricted by challenges of “confinement, motherhood and childcare”, by stating that this is a stereotypical notion of the role of women as “caretakers” confined within the domestic sphere whereas men are the breadwinners and the stronger sex. The Court held that such socially ascribed roles of gender discriminate against women who have an equal right of employment in the Army and the constitutional right of equality protects them. As pointed out earlier AIDWA has always supported the right of women in the SSC to be inducted in command posts and points out that 30% women with the Army are, even presently, working in conflict areas.
AIDWA stands with women in the Army who have been fighting neck to neck with their male counterparts. It demands that the Central government immediately implements the Supreme Court judgment within the stipulated three months period.
AIDWA welcomes the judgment of the Supreme Court that all women officers in short service commission are eligible for permanent commission and command posts in all branches of the Army irrespective of the number of years of service. Women in the Army have been fighting for this for the last ten years when the Delhi High Court granted them permanent commission in the Army. However, the government had refused to act on the Delhi High Court judgment.
The Supreme Court rightly dismissed the patriarchal contention of the Central government that women are physiologically unfit for command posts and that this would lead to a lowering of standards in the field. It also dismissed the notion that women are restricted by challenges of “confinement, motherhood and childcare”, by stating that this is a stereotypical notion of the role of women as “caretakers” confined within the domestic sphere whereas men are the breadwinners and the stronger sex. The Court held that such socially ascribed roles of gender discriminate against women who have an equal right of employment in the Army and the constitutional right of equality protects them. As pointed out earlier AIDWA has always supported the right of women in the SSC to be inducted in command posts and points out that 30% women with the Army are, even presently, working in conflict areas.
AIDWA stands with women in the Army who have been fighting neck to neck with their male counterparts. It demands that the Central government immediately implements the Supreme Court judgment within the stipulated three months period.
