New Delhi: The National Commission for
Women today pressed for granting of permanent commission to
women in Armed Forces at the earliest.
In a letter to Defence Minister A K Antony, NCW
Chairperson Girija Vyas said that women officers dedicate the
prime of their life to the nation during the short commission
period and throwing them out in their middle age on grounds of
being a women is highly discriminative and sad.
She said women have proved themselves that they were "No
less than man" in any field, including the Armed Forces.
Therefore, denying them opportunity for permanent
commission is violation of their rights, Vyas said in the
letter.
The Army, Navy and Air Force have already opened up their
service for women officers in certain departments such as
education, legal branch and other non-combat services.
However, the Services still have reservations over
according permanent commission to women in the fighting arms.
In 2009, when the defence ministry decided to offer
permanent commission to women officers joining the Services in
the future, a batch of 50 of them went to court seeking such
an offer be accorded to them too.
In March this year, the Delhi High Court ruled in their
favour and asked the Army and the Air Force to take them in as
permanent commissioned officers.
While the Air Force complied with the High Court order,
the Army has challenged it in the Supreme Court.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 19:57