A day after the Delhi high court issued a contempt notice to the chief of army staff, the ministry of defence on Tuesday moved Supreme Court challenging the order.
A day after the Delhi high court issued a contempt notice to the chief of army staff for not complying with its order to grant permanent commission to women officers, the ministry of defence on Tuesday moved Supreme Court challenging the order.
On March 12, in a move aimed at removing gender discrimination in the armed forces, the high court had asked the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) to allow permanent commission to women officers on the same employment condition as men. While the IAF has complied with the order, the army is undecided yet.
The ministry, in its petition, has sought a stay on the operation of the court judgement and its review. The appeal asserts that a policy decision taken by the defence ministry can’t be reviewed and disturbed by a court.
“We have filed the appeal against the high court judgement and have sought stay of its operation,” advocate Anil Katiyar, who filed the petition on behalf of the Centre, said.
The government, meanwhile, has refuted reports on the contempt notice to the defence ministry or the chief of army staff.
The high court’s decision had followed a four-year court battle by around 60 army and IAF women officers for permanent commission and equal benefits like their male counterparts. The army had contended that women officers were in the danger of coming in contact with the enemy if they were granted permanent commission.
Women were allowed into the armed forces as officers for the first time in 1992. In 2005, their tenure was limited to 14 years of service in all three forces, without any post-retirement benefits. In 2008, the government had agreed upon permanent commission for women officers in some areas of the armed forces.
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