Latest news with #ShortServiceCommission
Hans India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Let's not bring their morale down: SC on women Army officers
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre not to release from service Short Service Commission women Army officers challenging the denial of permanent commission to them asking not to 'bring their morale down' in 'the prevailing situation'. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh which posted a batch of pleas filed by 69 officers for hearing in August, said they should not be released till the next hearing. 'In the prevailing situation let's not bring their morale down. They are brilliant officers, you can use their services somewhere else. This is not the time that they be asked to roam around in the Supreme Court. They have a better place to be and serve the country,' Justice Kant said. She urged the top court not to grant any stay on their release and said the Indian Army needed young officers and every year only 250 personnel were granted permanent commission. Senior advocate Maneka Guruswamy, appearing for colonel Geeta Sharma, referred to the case of Colonel Sofia Qureshi, one of the two women officers who had briefed the media on the Operation Sindoor on May 7 and 8. Guruswamy said Colonel Qureshi had to approach this court for a similar relief related to permanent commission and now she has made the country proud. The bench without commenting much on the submission said the case before the top court was purely a legal one, having nothing to do with the achievements of the officers. In its February 17, 2020, the top court said absolute exclusion of women from all positions, except staff assignments, in the Army was indefensible and their blanket non-consideration for command appointments without any justification couldn't be sustained in law. The apex court, which allowed permanent commission (PC) to women officers in the Army, said an absolute prohibition of women Short Service Commission officers to obtain anything but staff appointments evidently did not fulfil the purpose of granting PC as a means of career advancement in the Army. The top court also referred to the distinctions achieved by women officers, and put out an example of Col Qureshi's achievements.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
‘Let's not bring morale down,' says SC on women short service officers
NEW DELHI: Taking a humanitarian approach, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre not to discharge from service the Short Service Commission (SSC) women Army officers, challenging the denial of permanent commission (PC) to them, asking not to 'bring their morale down' in 'the prevailing situation'. 'In the prevailing situation let's not bring their (Short Service Commission women Army officers) morale down. They are brilliant officers, you can use their services somewhere else. This is not the time that they are asked to roam around in the Supreme Court. They have a better place to be and serve the country,' said, a two-judge bench of the apex court, The court, which was hearing a batch of pleas filed by 69 officers challenging the denial of PC , fixed the matter for further hearing to August.
Economic Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
SC stays women SSC army officers' release from service
The Supreme Court has instructed the Central government to retain Short Service Commission women Army officers. These officers are contesting the denial of permanent commission. The court emphasized the importance of maintaining their morale, especially given the current situation after Operation Sindoor. The court will decide the case on merits. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre not to release from service the Short Service Commission (SSC) women Army officers who are challenging the denial of permanent commission, observing that their morale must not be brought down "in the prevailing situation."The top court lauded the efforts of the Indian Army in wake of the prevailing situation after " Operation Sindoor ". A division bench headed by Justice Surya Kant said that every citizen needs to stand by the Army and uplift its for the Bench, Justice Kant added "this is not the time we keep these people (officers) running around in the Supreme Court and is some better place now for them to on date, we would like their morale to be kept high".The Bench said that it will decide the case of merits but in the "meantime just utilize their services. It's not your case they are unsuitable kind of officers", Justice Kant told the counsel appearing for the counsel for the Centre submitted that the Army has a steep pyramidical structure, and as such, needs more young officers, Justice Kant said that the Army needs a "blend of both (young and experienced officers)".The senior SC Judge added "young blood needs to be trained, important thing is development of mental you go to a height of 60000 or are standing there without bothering about one feels proud. All of us feel very little before them".The development took place during the hearing of a plea filed by Lt. Col. Geeta Sharma, a Woman Short Service Commission Officer. Her plea contended that she has been relieved from her posting and prayed that she may be allowed to continue in service, as she has not been dismissed thus far.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC stays women SSC army officers' release from service
The Supreme Court has instructed the Central government to retain Short Service Commission women Army officers. These officers are contesting the denial of permanent commission. The court emphasized the importance of maintaining their morale, especially given the current situation after Operation Sindoor. The court will decide the case on merits. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre not to release from service the Short Service Commission (SSC) women Army officers who are challenging the denial of permanent commission, observing that their morale must not be brought down "in the prevailing situation."The top court lauded the efforts of the Indian Army in wake of the prevailing situation after " Operation Sindoor ". A division bench headed by Justice Surya Kant said that every citizen needs to stand by the Army and uplift its for the Bench, Justice Kant added "this is not the time we keep these people (officers) running around in the Supreme Court and is some better place now for them to on date, we would like their morale to be kept high".The Bench said that it will decide the case of merits but in the "meantime just utilize their services. It's not your case they are unsuitable kind of officers", Justice Kant told the counsel appearing for the counsel for the Centre submitted that the Army has a steep pyramidical structure, and as such, needs more young officers, Justice Kant said that the Army needs a "blend of both (young and experienced officers)".The senior SC Judge added "young blood needs to be trained, important thing is development of mental you go to a height of 60000 or are standing there without bothering about one feels proud. All of us feel very little before them".The development took place during the hearing of a plea filed by Lt. Col. Geeta Sharma, a Woman Short Service Commission Officer. Her plea contended that she has been relieved from her posting and prayed that she may be allowed to continue in service, as she has not been dismissed thus far.
India Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
This isn't time for court battles: Top court says retain all women officers
This is not the time to have experienced women officers 'running around in courtrooms' or sideline them, said the Supreme Court on Friday, sending a strong message to the armed forces and the government. The court's observation, made during a hearing of the petition filed by Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers who were denied Permanent Commission (PC), came amid the escalating tensions between India and Bench led by Justice Surya Kant made it clear that, for now, the Army must retain those officers still in service. 'There is a better place for them to perform than courtrooms,' Justice Kant said. 'As of date, we would like their morale to be kept high and high like anything.'The court stopped short of passing any order on the merits of the matter but asked the Union government to make transitional arrangements. 'We will decide the legal issues in due course. In the meantime, just utilise their services. It's not your case that they are unsuitable officers,' Justice Kant told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Centre. The hearing comes as military personnel are on heightened alert amid hostilities with Pakistan. Justice Kant underscored the importance of experience in the armed forces, saying, 'Of course, the force must always be young ... but young blood also needs to be trained, guided and taught mental temperament. We need a blend of both young and experienced officers.'advertisementReferring to the ongoing situation at the border, he added, 'All of us feel very small before them... That's how much they're doing for us. This is the time when each one of us has to be with them.'Representing one of the petitioners Lt Col Geeta Sharma, senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy argued that Sharma had not yet been dismissed and should be allowed to continue. 'The paperwork shows overwhelming vacancies,' Guruswamy said, adding that Colonel Sophia Qureshi, who recently led the press briefing on Operation Sindoor, wouldn't have had that opportunity had the top court not earlier intervened to secure PC for women countered the claims, stating that Sharma had already been released from service, having not been found eligible for PC during her board review in 2020. 'She served with distinction since 2011. In 2020, her entire batch was considered. She was not found fit for Permanent Commission. She later received a four-year extension and was finally released in 2024,' Bhati the Army's policy, she argued that the service follows a pyramidal structure and can offer PC to only a limited number of officers each year. 'We recruit 600–700 officers annually, but only 250 can be granted PC. The rest can serve up to 14 years. The nation sleeps peacefully because the defence forces are awake,' she court remained unconvinced that the present time, when India faces a military standoff with Pakistan, was the right time for the case hearing. 'We are very proud we have a robust and strengthened force,' Justice Kant said. 'Let's not do something that affects morale. Just utilise whoever is there.'In its interim direction, the court said all women SSC officers currently in service should not be relieved until the next hearing. 'We are not creating any equity in their favour,' the bench clarified, 'but we are saying, don't release them until we decide.'The matter will continue to be heard on merits at a later date.
