New Delhi, March 25: The Supreme Court has issued a significant ruling regarding gender bias faced by women officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The court highlighted that outdated perceptions and misjudgments within the armed forces have led to many women officers being denied permanent commissions, adversely affecting their careers.
After hearing multiple petitions from women officers, the Supreme Court remarked that their career evaluations were conducted in ways that lacked fairness. This bias has hindered their progress and resulted in their exclusion from permanent commissions. The court has issued separate directives for all three branches of the military to provide relief to these women.
The court found that the annual confidential reports (ACRs) and other evaluations of women officers were conducted in a biased manner. In many instances, women were rated lower than their male counterparts, despite having similar training and postings.
For those women officers who were discharged due to not receiving permanent commissions, the court has granted a one-time relief by recognizing 20 years of service. This will enable them to receive pensions and other benefits, although back pay will not be provided.
The Supreme Court clarified that permanent commissions will no longer be limited to male officers. Women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers who have already received permanent commissions will not have their commissions revoked.
During the proceedings, the court stated that women officers who were released from service will be granted pensions based on 20 years of service. However, this benefit will not apply to women officers from the Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Army Education Corps (AEC) cadres.
The court noted that the vacancy model adopted by the selection board in December 2020 was reasonable. However, the criteria and policies for evaluation were not made public in a timely manner, negatively impacting women officers.
Permanent commissions and promotions granted by the selection boards in December 2020 and December 2022 will remain valid. Benefits awarded based on previous decisions will also be upheld.
As a one-time relief, the court directed that instead of convening a new selection board, some eligible women officers will be promoted directly, provided they pass medical and disciplinary checks.
This relief will be available to SSC women officers who joined the Navy before January 2009, as well as those who joined after January 2009 (excluding the Law, Education, and Naval Architecture branches), and male SSC officers who were excluded from permanent commissions due to service conditions.
Officers who were discharged during the financial year 2025 will also be recognized as having completed 20 years of service for pension purposes, effective from January 1, 2025.
Permanent commissions granted to SSC women officers by the selection boards in 2019, 2020, and 2021 will not be revoked. As a one-time relief, all SSC officers (both male and female) included in these selection boards will be recognized for 20 years of service for pensions and other benefits, although back pay will not be provided.
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