The fault in their stars
THE WEEK|October 10, 2021
Women Army officers denied permanent commission are now fighting the “systemic discrimination” in courts
PRADIP R. SAGAR
The fault in their stars

LIEUTENANT COLONEL Asha Kale of the Army Ordnance Corps was the first woman officer to be posted in Jammu and Kashmir on active counter-terrorism operations. She served in forward areas and was awarded a commendation card in 2020. Despite her exemplary service, she was denied a permanent commission in the Indian Army, which would have put her on the military’s promotion ladder. Lieutenant Colonel Navneet Lobana, too, has a similar story.

She was the first woman garrison engineer in the Indian Army. She also raised a new unit in Udhampur and got an outstanding report for the same. But she, too, did not get a permanent commission.

And now, Lt Col Kale and Lt Col Lobana, along with more than 100 other women officers, have moved Delhi High Court challenging the Army’s “systemic discrimination” in selecting candidates for permanent commissioning.

For many years, women officers in the Army were allowed to join only under the short service commission (SSC) and could serve only up to 14 years. In a landmark judgement on February 17, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that all women officers should be considered for command roles and are eligible for permanent commission.

“Getting permanent commission is our due, but we have to knock the court’s door every time,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ankita Srivastava, an officer of the Army Ordnance Corps. “The Army headquarters has always misinterpreted the court verdicts [to ensure that] female officers do not come anywhere closer to male officers.”

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 10, 2021-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 10, 2021-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE WEEKAlle anzeigen
A golden girl
THE WEEK India

A golden girl

One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
September 29, 2024
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
THE WEEK India

The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India

The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
September 29, 2024
United in the states
THE WEEK India

United in the states

Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds

time-read
5 Minuten  |
September 29, 2024
COVER DRIVE
THE WEEK India

COVER DRIVE

Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits

time-read
3 Minuten  |
September 29, 2024
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
THE WEEK India

GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical

Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:

time-read
2 Minuten  |
September 29, 2024
India is not a controlling big brother
THE WEEK India

India is not a controlling big brother

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
September 29, 2024
Comrade with no foes
THE WEEK India

Comrade with no foes

Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!

time-read
2 Minuten  |
September 29, 2024
Pinning down saffron
THE WEEK India

Pinning down saffron

In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana

time-read
4 Minuten  |
September 29, 2024
MAKE IN MANIPUR
THE WEEK India

MAKE IN MANIPUR

Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict

time-read
5 Minuten  |
September 29, 2024
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
THE WEEK India

SAHEB LOSES STEAM

Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock

time-read
5 Minuten  |
September 29, 2024