New Delhi, March 12: In a major boost to women serving in the defence services, the Delhi High Court Friday asked the Centre to grant permanent commission to women officers – on par with male officers – in all three wings of the armed forces.
Delivering a verdict on a batch of petitions filed by serving and retired lady officers, a division bench comprising Justices SK Kaul and MP Garg, standing by the right to equality, also asked the government to provide all consequential benefit to them.
In its 32-page order, the court also directed the reinstatement of all the women officers who had approached the court seeking permanent commission as well as those who retired during the case.
The High Court had on December 14 reserved its verdict on the petitions for a direction to the Centre for granting of permanent commission to serving women officers like their male counterparts in the armed forces.
Currently, women are inducted in the Army as officers under the Short Service Commission for a maximum period of 14 years whereas their male counterparts are eligible to receive permanent commission after five years.
—–PTI