New Delhi: Army will consider giving permanent commission to serving Women Short Service Commission Officers in its Judge Advocate General (JAG) and educational branches, Government told the Supreme Court on Monday.
An undertaking in this regard which stated that the exercise will be completed within two months was submitted by Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium before a bench comprising Justices J M Panchal and Gyan Sudha Mishra.
The bench recorded the undertaking which said, "The Solicitor General on instruction states that women short service commission officers in service shall be considered for permanent commission in JAG and educational branch of Army."
The court also recorded the undertaking that the case of Major Lina Gurung, a short service commission officer, who is retiring in August will be considered on priority subject to the requirements.
After the SG gave an undertaking, the bench stayed the contempt proceedings till further orders for not complying with the Delhi High Court directions to grant permanent commission to women serving in the armed forces.
"In view of the statements made at bar by the Solicitor General, the contempt proceeding is stayed till further order," the bench said.
The court had asked the Defence ministry in the previous week to produce an Army notification that makes women ineligible for permanent commission in the regular Army.
The court direction had come during the hearing on an appeal filed by the Army against a verdict of the Delhi High Court by which it was directed to extend permanent commission to women officer in the regular Army. The Indian Air Force has already granted permanent commission to women.
The ministry took the stand that a notification issued in pursuance of Section 12 of the Army Act, 1950 excluded women from getting permanent commission in the regular Army. On the face of it, the notification appeared to be in breach of Constitutional provisions guaranteeing equality before law but it was not so.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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