SC grants women right to permanent commission and command in Indian Army

The Court dismissed the defence ministry's contention that "owing to prolonged absence during pregnancy, motherhood and domestic obligations," women were not equipped to deal with hazards of service"

In an important step towards granting women the right to serve in the military on equal terms with men, the Supreme Court on Monday granted women the right to “permanent commission” (PC), and the right to command.

This opens the doors for women to command military units, such as logistics, signals or engineer regiments, thus placing them in the position of leading bodies of 500-600 men in combat support duties.

The apex court rejected the defence ministry’s argument that “(Indian) troops are not yet mentally schooled to accept women officers in command of units” because they (the men) are “predominantly