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Delhi 13 December 2022: The Indian Army on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it will hold a Special Selection Board to consider 246 of its women officers for promotions to higher ranks.
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha was hearing a plea by 34 Army women officers, claiming that even after the Court’s directions in the Babita Puniya judgment, promotion of women Officers was not being implemented.
Senior Advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for the Indian Army, informed the Court that roughly 246 women officers will be considered for promotion on January 9, 2023.
The Court directed the results of the Board to be placed before it and listed the matter for further hearing on January 30, 2023.
The petition filed through advocate Rakesh Kumar, said that it was completely unjustified, arbitrary and a matter of insult to senior female officers that their promotions were withheld when the respondents had been promoting junior male officers to Colonel rank.
The applicants sought an immediate Selection Board for promotion of eligible women officers at par with their male counterparts. They pointed out that their junior male counterparts were being considered for promotion before them and asked the Court to defer the process.
The petition also sought directions for Selection Board No.2 (for promotion to Brigadier) to be held for women Officers who will be considered and promoted by Selection Board No. 3 (for promotion to Colonel) given that their male counterparts had already been considered by both boards and have been promoted to Brigadier rank.