'If You Don't, We Will,' SC Warns Centre Over Permanent Commission For Women Officers In ICG 

The top court on Monday told the Centre that if it cannot grant permanent commission to eligible women short-service commission officers of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) then it will.

The court was hearing a petition filed by a woman officer of the Indian Coast Guard seeking a grant of permanent commission to eligible women short-service commission officers in the force.

Attorney General R Venkataramani appearing for Centre told the court the Coast guard is distinctly different from the Navy and Army. A board has been set up for the purpose and it needs structural changes. He told the court that he will ask for an affidavit to be filed in court.

CJI DY Chandrachud however said that all these functionality related arguments do not hold water in 2024. 

"Women cannot be left out. If you do not do it, we will do it. So take a look at that," the CJI warned the Centre.

Last week, the top court came down heavily on the Centre and the ICG for denial of permanent commission to its women officers and said the maritime force must come up with a policy which treats women fairly. 

"You speak of Nari Shakti. Now show it here...I don't think the Coast Guard can say they can fall out of the line when the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force have done it," the CJI said.

The case came up, when Priyanka Tyagi moved the top court against Delhi High Court order refusing her plea against denial of permanent entry into the ICG.

Tyagi moved court after she was denied permanent commission despite 14-years of service as a pilot with ICG.

While on duty, Tyagi has saved more than 300 lives at sea. She has also lodged a record 4,500 flying hours. In 2016, she was part of the first ever all-women crew on a Dornier aircraft to undertake maritime patrolling in the east. 

After hearing Tyagi's case, the top court said that it would expand the ambit of the case to examine the ICG's policy and see what they do to other women officers.