"You speak of Nari Shakti, show it here": Supreme Court to Centre over denial of permanent commission to woman Coast Guard officer

The Supreme Court on Monday criticized the Central government for denying consideration of permanent commission (PC) to a woman Short Service Appointment (SSA) officer engaged with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG)..A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra emphasized that the Coast Guard could not fall out of line when the Army and the Navy was granting permanent commission to women officers. "You speak of 'Nari shakti Nari shakti'. Now show it here. You are in the deep end of the sea here. I don't think Coast Guard can say they can fall out of the line when Army, Navy have all done it (given permanent commission to women officers). You all have not read the Babita Punia judgment," the Court said..The observation was made when Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikramjit Banerjee, appearing for the Centre, argued that the Coast Guard operates in a different domain compared to the Army and Navy..The Court further questioned the patriarchal stance of the government and questioned why women officers in the Coast Guard could not be granted PC. It further highlighted the presence of women in the Navy, questioning why the Coast Guard should be an exception."Why be so patriarchal that you do not want see women in the Coast Guard segment? You have women in the Navy. What is so special about Coast Guard? We will open up the whole canvas. Times are gone where we say women cannot be in the Coast Guard. Women can guard the borders. Women can guard the coasts as well," the Court stated..In its 2020 judgment in Babita Punia, the Court had held that women Short Service Commission officers are entitled to Permanent Commission on par with their male counterparts.The Court had, in the process, held that the Centre's stance was based on gender stereotypes and societal notions on gender roles that men are physically stronger while women are weak and submissive..Women officers to be granted Permanent Commission, exclusion from Command Postings violates Articles 14: Supreme Court