Army seeks clarification from apex court over women officers

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has sought a clarification from the Supreme Court on the grant of permanent commission to women short service commission officers (WSSCO) pointing out that around 14% of them failed one criteria for this -and whether an apex court ruling of March meant permanent commissions had to be granted irrespective of the criteria being met.

The issue involves 72 of 514 women short service commission officers (WSSCO). The Selection Board that considered their case in September 2020 found serious charges of indiscipline, forgery, disobedience and unbecoming conduct as an offimedical cer -- and on this basis denied them permanent commission.

Under a Supreme Court order of March 25, 2021, Army was directed to positively grant permanent commission to all such women short service commission officers (WSSCO) who obtained 60 per cent marks, subject to disciplinary and vigilance clearance. In all, 514 women officers met this rule, of which 442 were declared “fit” for permanent commission (PC) and 72 declared “unfit”.

The charges against the 72 officers are serious and have been disclosed for the first time by the army despite the findings being available when the top court decided the case in March. These include “discipline, disobedience of orders, lapses in government procurement, forging documents, poor work ethics, lack of professionalism, un-officer like conduct, poor performance in courses, etc.”

As per the army policy, laid out on September 30, 1983 and February 24, 2012, short service commission officers have to fulfil the twin criteria of minimum cut-off grade of 60% in the assessment and a “fit” declaration by the Selection Board. In the past, this rule has been uniformly applied to all short service commission officers.

As the SC order of March 25 comes in the way of the army rejecting them, Colonel Sachidananda Prabhu, the Colonel Military Secretary (Legal) of the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army) has filed an application in the top court seeking clarification.