Question

do you think women should be allow to serve in combat? why and why not?

Answer 1

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled women officers must be given permanent commission in Army. This comes days after the Centre told the Supreme Court that women were not suitable for commanding posts in the Army because male troops were not yet ready to accept them as officers, many women in the armed forces, both serving and retired, have come out to say that performance, and not gender, should be a criteria to decide who rises in the ranks.

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Earlier, the Centre had told the apex court that “composition of rank and file being male, and predominantly drawn from rural background, with prevailing societal norms, troops are not yet mentally schooled to accept women officers in command”. But senior advocate Aishwarya Bhati, counsel for women officers seeking permanent commission and command posting in Army, countered that the government's contentions were contrary to the records and statistics which show women officers have worked shoulder to shoulder with their male colleagues and performed extremely well — in peace locations and hostile zones. The petitioners also told the Supreme Court that it reflected a "regressive mindset" of the government which will perpetuate gender discrimination.

The apex court nudged the government to test women “on the same footing as men” while urging a “change of mindset”. Women officers agree.

“The Centre’s mindset comes across as patriarchal. When women can lead Republic Day parade, why can’t they lead battalions? Officers should be judged on their performance, not gender. If women aren’t given the opportunity, how will there be acceptance?” Major Lekha Nair (retd) told TOI.

Women are being inducted in Army as short-service commission (SSC) officers since the early-1990s on all India merit basis. The SSC term for women and men ends in 14 years. Women, of course, are not allowed to serve in combat arms like Infantry, Armoured Corps, Artillery and Mechanised Infantry. When it comes to permanent commission in India, the government in 2019 allowed it for women in 10 branches – Army Education Corps, Judge Advocate General, Signals, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics, Army Service Corps, Mechanical Engineers, Army Ordnance Corps and Intelligence.

The men don't have a problem, it is senior officers, old "general sahibs" who call the shots, who don't want to see women in combat and in commanding roles. They don't want to be answerable to a woman. Because they have never worked with women and don't trust them

This is in stark contrast to many developed countries that have women in their front-line forces. In Scandinavian nations — which lead in gender parity — women are allowed in combat roles. In countries that have conscription like Israel and North Korea, it’s the same.

In March 2010, Delhi high court had directed the armed forces to give women SSC officers permanent commission in Army, which appealed in Supreme Court against the decision. Later, Army notified permanent commission to women officers who joined the forces under SSC after March 2019. But this left out those serving under SSC before March 2019. The battle for equal opportunity has gone on.

One of the petitioners to fight the legal battle against gender discrimination in Armed forces was Wing Commander(retd) Anupama Joshi. One of the first women to join IAF in 1992, she said, “It’s absolutely disheartening. Don’t constabulary and jawans hail from the same society? When they can take orders from a woman, why do they think things will be different in Army?”

Women officers are allowed in all branches in IAF, including as fighter and helicopter pilots. In Navy, SSC has been applicable in all non-sea going branches. In Naval Armament, women officers under SSC are eligible for permanent commission.

The onus of ushering in a mindset change in a male-dominated system is on the government and women should not be penalised for it, one of them said. A serving woman Army officer said Army should introduce initiatives to fight gender bias. And opening up combat roles would be a start.

In today’s age, gender cannot be a criteria for promotion. If women are physically fit and want to serve in combat roles, why stop them?

A serving Lt Col woman officer added, “In today’s age, gender cannot be a criteria for promotion. If women are physically fit and want to serve in combat roles, why stop them?”

Voices of support have come from women in both Navy and IAF. A retired Wing Commander said women are aware of pros and cons of being in combat roles so arguments like greater family demands and danger of women being taken prisoner of war cannot be given to keep them away. “Let women take a call whether they want to go to the front.”

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