The central government was criticized by the Supreme Court on Monday for not giving a woman officer in the Indian Coast Guard a Permanent Commission (PC). The highest court said the government had a “patriarchal attitude” and questioned its support for “Nari Shakti” and its mission.
A group of judges led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra made it clear that the Coast Guard could not be ruled out based on the criterion when the Navy and Army had already agreed to give permanent commissions to women officers.
“You say ‘Nari Shakti Nari Shakti,’ now show it to me.” This is the deepest part of the sea. The Army and Navy have already done everything, so I don’t think the Coast Guard can say they can go against the rules. “So far, none of you have read the Babita Punia decision,” the bench said.
The Supreme Court said in the Babita Punia case that women who work as Short Service Commission officers should have the same rights as men to a Permanent Commission.
During a short meeting on Monday, the three-judge bench led by the CJI asked, “What is the Coast Guard’s lack of respect for women?” Why don’t you want women to work in the Coast Guard? Women can watch over both the borders and the coast.
When speaking for the Centre, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikramjit Banerjee told the bench that the Coast Guard’s actions are different from those of other defense forces. This is what the bench said.
The bench brought up the fact that there are women in the Navy on a permanent basis and asked why the Coast Guard should be different.
“Why are you so biased against women that you don’t want to see them in the Coast Guard segment?” There are women in the navy; what makes the Coast Guard different?” questioned the CJI and said, “We will open up the whole picture. Gone are the days when we said women couldn’t be in the Coast Guard; women can now guard the borders and the coasts as well.”
The court made this comment while listening to Priyanka Tyagi’s plea. Tyagi was a short service appointment officer who had been turned down for the Permanent Commission even though she had served 14 years with no problems.
In her plea, the woman officer stated, “As of the present date, the Petitioner has the highest flying hours as per her seniority in all the forces, including male and female, i.e., 4500 hours on the Dornier Aircraft and has heroically saved more than 300 lives at sea.”
In her plea, she also said that the board meeting that was supposed to decide whether to give SSA women officers in the Indian Coast Guard a Permanent Commission was canceled.
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