In a bid to end gender bias in the armed forces, Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Indian Army to grant permanent commission to women officers within three months, kicking aside the stereotypes that women are just meant to sit at home.

Slamming the centre for not complying with the High Court as well as Supreme Court orders, the apex court said that the permanent commission will apply to all women officers irrespective of their years of service. 

© BCCL

In addition to that, in its landmark verdict, the Supreme Court also ordered that the terms of appointment for women officers will be the same as male officers.   

Marking a milestone in gender parity, SC not only rejected Centreâs appeal against the Delhi High Courtâs order but also elaborated that reasons such as âphysiological featuresâ and other reasons are only perpetuating and giving rise to gender stereotypes. 

SC says that the contentions of centre, regarding the issue of physiological limitations & social norms to deny an opportunity to women officers is disturbing & can't be accepted.

Also says - Centre, by not giving permanent commission to women officers, had prejudiced the case. https://t.co/XvaHS4MNKy

â ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2020

According to Indiatimes, the Supreme Courtâs order said, âIt is an insult to women as well as the army when aspersions are cast on women, their ability and their achievements in the Army.â

"Centre, by not giving permanent commission to women officers, had prejudiced the case," said the court bench comprising of Justices DY Chandrachud and Ajoy Rastogi. 

© BCCL

Justice DY Chandrachud also said, "Soldiers must have the physical capability to do one's role. Women in the Army is an evolutionary process."

However, the bench clarified that the deployment of women officers in combat roles is a matter of policy as held by the Delhi High Court and the competent authority has to look into it.

The SC order made people on the internet extremely happy and most of them laud this historical judgment. 

Check out some of the reactions here:

We agree.

A historic judgment for #womenofficers #IndianArmy @adgpi https://t.co/bSr2simkDt

â riya nehra (@riyanehra) February 17, 2020

This made us very happy!

A historic judgment for #womenofficers #IndianArmy @adgpi https://t.co/bSr2simkDt

â riya nehra (@riyanehra) February 17, 2020

Kudos!

Cheers! #SupremeCourtOfIndia ! #WomenOfficers to #Command #Army #Units The Credit goes SOLELY To Supreme Court Let there be None to steal the thunder from #SupremeCourtOfIndia Cheers !!! https://t.co/wi6SD0Xitt

â A Candle In The Wind Adventuring,Being,Caring, (@AshaaKiEkKiran) February 17, 2020

More power to women warriors!

When a women takes up such job we can't kill the warrior spirit in her. The maha kaali spirit in her. Allow them to grow in tat dimension. We need more women warriors become our enemy nations hate to die at the hands of women becoz they don't get heaven

â Vandana (@Vandana788) February 17, 2020

Woah..

Army means it should be like kill attitude. Kill the enemy. This is a country where shaktism is celebrated. When women take up command jobs, especially the warrior mind they should think to be like maha kali. They should eliminate the enemy at the cost of anything than be POW

â Vandana (@Vandana788) February 17, 2020

According to a PTI report, the apex court said there is need for a change in mindset with regard to giving equal opportunity to women officers in the Indian Army even after 70 years of post-colonial era.

There are 1,653 women officers in the Army, 3.89 per cent of the total number of officers in the Army.

According to the court, women officers brought laurels to the country and won several gallantry and Sena medals as well as UN Peacekeeping awards for their contribution in armed forces. To cast aspersions on them on the basis of physiological features is wrong as it is based on fallacy, it said.

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