The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to grant Permanent Commission to 11 women Short Service Commission officers within 10 days as per its previous orders. The Court passed the directions after a contempt plea was filed by women SSC officers who were not granted PC in terms of the judgment dated March 25, 2021.
During the hearing today, the Court has warned Centre to initiate contempt proceedings against the Indian Army for not following its previous orders for grant of permanent commission.
The matter was listed before the bench of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice A.S. Bopanna. “Army committed contempt of court by not granting Permanent Commission to women officers who had received favourable order from Court,” the bench had noted earlier today.
“Army may be supreme in its authority but the constitutional court is also supreme. We had given you a long rope. The remarks we had made in the judgement allowing you to file affidavit on the consideration taken was to ensure that you say what you are doing,”
-the Court said.
The Court has noted that that out of 72 officers, 1 had applied for premature release.
“Of the remaining 71 officers, 39 have been granted PC and a letter has been issued on 29 October 2021 in compliance of our verdict. The contempt petitions before this court cover 36 WSSCOs who were not considered for grant of PC. After a review, 21 of the 36 officers have been granted PC and the case of 1 is under consideration.”
The Court has further noted, “As a result 14 offficers has been left out in which 3 are medically unfit under paragraph 120(3).
(a) Now remaining 11 officers would be granted PC within 10 days
(b) Those officers whose cases are not in these contempt proceedings but meet the criteria would be granted Permanent commission in 3 weeks
(c) It is clarified in terms of paragraph 120(2) those officers who have disciplinary and vigilance clearance would be eligible for permanent commission.”
In its March 25 order, the Top Court had directed the Army to consider granting PC to the women Short Service Commission officers subject to their obtaining 60% marks in the assessment subjects, being found fit on medical criteria and having received disciplinary and vigilance clearances.