Order on permanent commission to women officers enabling, says Army Chief Naravane

New Delhi, February 20

Army Chief General MM Naravane on Thursday said the force had been championing gender equality and the Supreme Court order granting permanent commission to women officers would give it a lot of clarity in moving forward.

The Supreme Court on Monday had directed that women officers in the Army be granted permanent commission and command postings. “The Indian Army does not discriminate any soldier based on religion, caste, creed, or even gender. The outlook of the Indian Army has been throughout like this and that is why we started inducting women officers as early as in 1993,” General Naravane told reporters.

The Army has taken the initiative to induct women in rank and file, and the first batch of 100 women soldiers is undergoing training at Corps of Military Police Centre and School, he said.

Letters are being sent to women officers asking whether they would prefer permanent commissioning, the Army Chief said, hailing the verdict as enabling.

“The SC decision is a welcome one as it brings out a sense of clarity and purpose to gainfully employ officers for better efficiency of the organisation,” he said. — PTI