There’s a good news for all those women officers who are a part of the Indian Navy. They will now be eligible for permanent commission if they have or would be completing seven years of their service. Earlier apart from the Navy, all the other wings of the armed forces had permanent commission for women.
According to newspaper reports, after the decks cleared, the first set of women officers on permanent commission will be appointed this year. Female officers in the Navy are commissioned for short service with a maximum term of 14 years, due to which they are ineligible for pension, since it requires a minimum 20 years of service. In fact, no short service commission officer, male or female, is entitled for pension. Few months back, the Indian Air Force (IAF) came out with the decision to allow women as fighter pilots for the first time.
Various writ petitions were moved by a total of 17 short service commission women seeking permanent commissions. It is expected that the verdict on the remaining petitions will also be out soon.A similar court in the year 2010, had issued an order allowing women to obtain permanent commission in the Army and the Air Force, noting that women officers “deserve better from the government”.
Three women officers – Commander Suman Kumari, Commander Supriya Sethu and Commander Pawan Preet Mann – had moved the Supreme Court seeking reinstatement in the Navy. They have now been called for their medical tests for the permanent commission.
