HC orders permanent commission to women in navy

The Delhi high Court on Friday allowed a pleas of naval women officers for permanent commission in the force, saying it would "frown upon any endeavour to block progress of women".

A division bench of Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice Najmi Waziri said that naval women officers can now have full term service and can avail of retirement benefits, noting "sexist bias and service bias would not be allowed to block progress of women".

Nineteen serving and retired women navy officers had moved the high court for permanent commission alleging gender discrimination.

Women have been given only short-term commissions in the Navy, the maximum term of which is only 14 years. Due to this, they cannot be eligible for pension which requires a minimum 20 years of service.

In 2010, a similar high court order allowed women permanent commission in the army and the air force, noting that women officers "deserve better from the government".