The Centre on Wednesday assured the Supreme Court that there is no discrimination against Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers in the grant of permanent commission (PC), emphasizing that all parameters are being followed without gender bias.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh was hearing petitions filed by serving and retired women officers who alleged that, despite serving in difficult areas and participating in key operations such as Galwan, Balakot and the recent Operation Sindoor, they were unfairly denied PC.
Centre’s Stand
Appearing for the Union government and the Army, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati asserted that the annual confidential reports (ACRs) of officers are gender-neutral and assessed purely on merit.
“In the Army, we have been following a very strict regime and there is no question of discrimination, as the selection board does not even have the officer’s name before it,” Bhati told the bench.
She further explained that while “criteria appointments” — typically postings in difficult and hostile operational areas — are considered in the evaluation, they are not the sole parameter for granting PC. “There are several aspects in the ACR which are considered at the time of grant of permanent commission. Criteria appointment is not the sole criteria,” she clarified.
Court’s Observations
The bench, however, questioned the selection policy, pointing out inconsistencies in the system. It noted that from one SSC batch, officers with 80 marks might be selected, while in another batch, those with only 65 marks could qualify.
The judges cautioned that women officers must not be made to feel that they are being overlooked for permanent commission.
The Women Officers’ Plea
The petitioners argued that despite their participation in critical operations, including high-altitude deployments, they were not given due consideration for PC. They further alleged that the Centre had repeatedly violated the Supreme Court’s 2020 and 2021 directions to ensure equal opportunity for women officers in the Army.
Vacancy Constraints
Responding to concerns, Bhati pointed to structural challenges, including a skewed ratio between regular officers and SSC officers. She noted that there is a cap of 250 officers considered for permanent commission, with final selection depending on merit within each batch.
What’s Next
Bhati’s submissions will continue before the bench on Thursday as the Supreme Court examines whether systemic flaws in policy continue to disadvantage women SSC officers despite earlier judicial directions.
