Four women officers challenge Army's service rules

New Delhi: Days after Defence Minister AK Antony stood up for women officers, saying it was "high time" women were granted "their due" in the armed forces, the Delhi High Court too said they deserve a fair deal, the court was hearing a case of gender bias against women in the military.

Two women officers one in army the other in air force who had approached the court arguing that though their male counterparts were being offered permanent commissions there was a gender bias against them even though they were not posted in combat duties. The Chief of Army and Air Force have to respond on this issue by September 12 this year.

Women are currently eligible for permanent commissions only in the medical, nursing and dental services of the armed forces.

They are also eligible for short service commissions in these services as also in the support arms of the armed forces up to a maximum of 14 years.

Four women officers had challenged this policy in the High Court claiming parity with men, they had asked for an option to serve as permanent commission officers.

Following an independent directive from the Defence Minister last week, the Army has already identified its Judge Advocate General and Education branches for absorbing women permanently.

Currently, 5,137 women officers serve in the Armed forces. They include 4,101 in the Army, 784 in the Air Force, and 252 in the Navy.

In the Army, women serve in support arms like the Corps of Signals, Army Ordinance Corps, the Corps of Electronic and Mechanical Engineers, and the Army Service Corps.

In the Indian Air Force, women are inducted in all streams, barring the fighter stream. In the Indian Navy, there are restrictions on posting women officers aboard ships and submarines.

Most militaries worldwide induct women but only a few allow them to perform active combat roles. Among these countries are Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland.

Countries like Britain and Israel allow women to serve in combat arms positions like artillery roles but exclude them from infantry units. The US allows women in most combat flying positions.