The Court noted that women officers in the Army were being compelled to repeatedly approach Court in this regard despite earlier orders in their favour.
The Indian Army’s continued defiance of the Supreme Court’s orders regarding the promotion and empanelment of female officers to the rank of colonel drew the displeasure of the Supreme Court on Friday. In response, the Court issued a directive to the relevant selection board, instructing them to conduct a new empanelment process within two weeks, ensuring that previously promoted female officers retain their positions as colonels.
The bench, presided over by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and comprised of Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that female officers in the Army were compelled to repeatedly approach the court for their rights despite prior court orders. The Court expressed its concern about the arbitrary nature of the denial of empanelment to women officers based on the selection process.
The Court emphasized, “Their stance has been one of disobedience to this court’s orders and failure to administer their rightful entitlement.”
This decision came in response to applications presented by Senior Advocates Huzefa Ahmadi and V Mohana. In November 2021, the Supreme Court had announced its intention to initiate contempt proceedings against the Indian Army for non-compliance with its earlier directives regarding the denial of Permanent Commission (PC) to eleven female officers.
Earlier, in March of that year, the apex court had ordered the grant of Permanent Commission to 39 female officers in the Indian Army. Subsequently, contempt applications related to this matter and other issues raised by female Army officers regarding their working conditions have been under consideration.
