The Army has granted Permanent Commission to 147 more women officers, months after the Supreme Court chastised it for denying women the same status despite a landmark ruling last year in which the court directed the Centre to ensure that women SSC officers are given PC in the Army.
On March 25, the Supreme Court ruled that the Army's evaluation criteria for granting PC to women short service commission officers were systematically discriminatory. It had “directed to reconsider some cases of women officers who were not granted PC by laying down revised parameters”.
The women officers were re-considered in accordance with the Hon'ble Supreme Court's directions, and fresh results have now been de-classified, the Army said, adding that “147 more women officers are being granted PC, bringing the total PC granted to 424 out of the 615 officers considered.”
“For administrative reasons, the results of a few female officers have been withheld pending the outcome of the clarification petition” filed by the Union of India in the Supreme Court.
According to the Army, a Special Number 5 Selection Board was formed in September last year in response to the Supreme Court's decision, and the results were announced in November.
The women officers who have been granted PC will go through "special training courses and challenging military assignments designed to prepare them for higher leadership roles in the Indian Army."
