The Supreme Court on Monday expressed strong disapproval towards the Centre and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for not granting permanent commission to its women officers, emphasizing the need for a policy that ensures fair treatment of women within the maritime force.
During the hearing of a plea by Officer Priyanka Tyagi, who sought permanent commission for eligible women in the ICG, the bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, highlighted the need for the ICG to align with the principle of ‘nari shakti’ (woman power) by developing a gender-neutral policy.
The court criticized the apparent “patriarchal approach” of the Union, questioning the reluctance to integrate women fully into the coastal defense force, especially in light of previous judgments that supported the granting of permanent commission to women in the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
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The bench, which also included Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, expressed perplexity over the hesitance to consider the case of the petitioner, who is among the women seeking permanent commission.
Questioning the rationale behind limiting permanent commissions for women to 10%, the Supreme Court challenged the notion of viewing women as lesser beings and urged the ICG to adopt practices similar to the Indian Navy, which grants permanent commission to women.
The court’s directive for a gender-neutral policy underscores a significant push towards equality and fair treatment of women in the armed forces, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for gender parity in the military sector.
