Army women: Govt to oppose permanent commission

For those pushing for gender parity in the forces, there is a mixed bag of news. Women Indian Air Force officers can now serve their full term, made possible by a Delhi High Court order in March that directed the armed forces to give permanent commission to women in the army and IAF, which they were not doing until then. Rahul Singh reports.

For those pushing for gender parity in the forces, there is a mixed bag of news.

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Women Indian Air Force (IAF) officers can now serve their full term, made possible by a Delhi High Court order in March that directed the armed forces to give permanent commission (PC) to women in the army and IAF, which they were not doing until then.

Permanent commission enables officers to serve a longer period and assume greater responsibilities, apart from ensuring retirement benefits.

But women in the army are unlikely to enjoy the same benefit.

South Block sources told Hindustan Times the defence ministry would appeal against the court order, but only challenging the part that granted PC to women army officers.

"The terms and conditions of service for women in the air force at the time of recruitment are different from those governing those in the army," the source said.

"There's scope to grant permanent tenure to IAF women, but not to those in the army."

As per the pre-2006 policy, quashed by the court, SSC women officers had to compulsorily retire after 14 years.