The Supreme Court pulled up the Indian army for denying permanent commission to women officers in the army due to gender bias.

A Bench comprising Justices J M Panchal and Gyan Sudha Mishra told counsel for the Centre that ‘denial of permanent commission to women in the army amounts to violating Right to Equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution’.

The apex court directed the Ministry of Defence to produce the government notification under which female officers have been debarred from getting permanent commission in the army.

The union government has challenged Delhi High Court judgement directing the chief of army staff to grant permanent commission to the female officers in the army .

The Indian Air force has already complied with the directions of the High Court.

According to the army chief, Section 12 of the Army Act clearly debars female officers from being given permanent commission in the army.

UNI