New Delhi: The Supreme Court in a 2020 verdict acknowledged the achievements of Colonel Sofia Qureshi, who along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh briefed media on ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, and other women Army officers while granting permanent commission to women officers in Indian Army.
The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal by women officers seeking equality of opportunity for women and permanent commission for them in the Indian Army.
Absolute exclusion of women from all others except staff assignments indefensible: Apex Court
The top court, while ruling in favour of granting Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Indian Army in a verdict delivered on February 17, 2020, said the absolute exclusion of women from all others except staff assignments is indefensible and the blanket non-consideration of women for criteria or command appointments without any justification by the Army cannot be sustained in law.
The apex court noted that the counter affidavit filed contained a detailed elaboration of the service which has been rendered by women SSC officers to the cause of the nation, working shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts and yet, that role is sought to be diluted by the repeated pleas made before this Court that women, by the nature of their biological composition and social milieu have a less important role to play than their male counterparts.
Women officers of the Indian Army have brought laurels to the force: Apex Court
“Such a line of submission is disturbing as it ignores the solemn constitutional values which every institution in the nation is bound to uphold and facilitate. Women officers of the Indian Army have brought laurels to the force. These are documented in the course of proceedings and have not been controverted in the submissions.” the apex court said.
Apex court mentioned in the judgment some of the distinctions which women officers have achieved and it included the name of Colonel Sofia Qureshi.
“Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi (Army Signal Corps) is the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multi-national military exercise named “Exercise Force 18” which is the largest ever foreign military exercise hosted by India. She has served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo in 2006 where she, along with others, was in charge of monitoring ceasefires in those countries and aiding in humanitarian activities. Her job included ensuring peace in conflict affected areas,” the apex court noted in its verdict.
Which were other women Army officers mentioned in the 2020 judgment?
The other women officers mentioned in the top court judgment were – Lieutenant Colonel Anuvandana Jaggi, Major Madhumita (Army Education Corps), Lieutenant Bhavana Kasturi, Lieutenant A Divya, Major Gopika Bhatti, Major Gopika Ajitsingh Pawar, Major Madhu Rana, Preeti Singh and Anuja Yadav, Captain Ashwini Pawar (Army Ordinance Corps) and Captain Shipra Majumdar (Army Engineer Corps).
Women Army officers’ track record of service to the nation is beyond reproach: Apex Court
The apex court in its verdict further said, “Women officers from the Indian Army have been participating in the UN Peace Keeping Force since 2004 and have been deployed in active combat scenarios in Syria, Lebanon, Ethiopia and Israel. Numerous other commendation certificates and laurels achieved by women officers have been placed on record. Their track record of service to the nation is beyond reproach. To cast aspersion on their abilities on the ground of gender is an affront not only to their dignity as women but to the dignity of the members of the Indian Army – men and women – who serve as equal citizens in a common mission.”
