The launch of the first-ever direct train service from Delhi to Kashmir would be a big turning point in the Valley's mood and its integration with India. He had to thwart it at any cost, asserts Shekhar Gupta.
The Supreme Court of India has ordered the Union government to grant a permanent commission to a woman officer in the Army Dental Corps who was denied benefits given to similarly placed officers. The court ruled that the woman officer was wrongly excluded from consideration and that the principle of "what is sauce for the goose ought to be sauce for the gander" applies in this case. The court directed the government to implement the order within four weeks and to extend all consequential benefits, including seniority, promotion, and monetary benefits, to the officer.
Declaring that women cannot be left out, the Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre to ensure that women are granted permanent commission in the Indian Coast Guard and said the court will do it if the government doesn't.
The Indian Coast Guard has filed an affidavit in response to a plea moved by a woman officer seeking permanent commission.
Lt Colonel KS Natt was cremated with full military honours in Jalandhar earlier in the day.
The bench asked whether the Union was still adopting "a patriarchal approach" despite the judgements of the top court on grant of permanent commission to women officers in the three armed forces- Army, Air force and the Navy.
Woman cadet Rekha Singh, wife of late Naik Deepak Singh who made the supreme sacrifice during the Galwan clashes and was awarded Vir Chakra posthumously, was commissioned into the Indian Army on Saturday following completion of her training from the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai.
Such public domain discussions affect their morale and dedication -- and that, if anything, will definitely affect combat-effectiveness, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
Bhatt said there is a shortage of 8,129 officers in the Indian Army that includes Army Medical Corps and Army Dental Corps.
"The women officers were re-considered as per directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and fresh results have now been de-classified. Consequently, 147 more women officers are being granted PC, taking the total PC granted to 424 out of the 615 officers considered," the ministry said in a statement.
The Indian Navy Invites unmarried men to join The Indian Navy as Short Service Commissioned Officers in Executive Branch (General Service) Jul 2008 Course.
The top court which recorded its appreciation for all the concerned authorities including Chief of Army Staff for acting fair and objective manner to resolve the issue directed that 12 WSSCOs, who have been released from service during the pendency of proceedings, shall be deemed to continue in service and be granted the Permanent Commission (PC).
A higher intake of Short Service Commissioned officers, picking up potential recruits who have just passed out from schools and payment of monthly stipends to cadets in military academies are some of the suggestions made to government to make up the shortage of officers in the army.
In a relief to some Women Short Service Commission Officers (WSSCO) in the Army, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre to issue orders granting Permanent Commission (PC) to 39 such officers in seven working days and furnish the details of 25 officers with reasons, who were not considered.
By extending the benefit to Air Force women personnel, the government has now brought in uniformity to women officers serving in armed forces.
Under the new scheme, women enrollees in the army will be eligible to attain the rank of Captain after two years, Major after a tenure of six years and can aspire to rise to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 13 years
Threatened with contempt action against the Indian Army and its chief Manoj Mukund Naravane by the Supreme Court over non-compliance of its earlier orders, the defence force agreed on Friday to grant permanent commission to all of its eligible women officers.
"The Air Force and Navy have acted in a more liberal way. However, in the Army, you kept giving them a five-five year's job and never gave permanent commission till the verdict of the Supreme Court. If you are introducing women in the Army then why do you create a bar in NDA," the SC said.
The apex court said the Annual Confidential Report evaluation criteria for grant of permanent commission to women officers ignored the achievement and laurels brought by them to the Indian Army.
'Those 10 years in the IAF has made me what I am today.'
The 7th Pay Commission has recommended more than doubling the 'Military Service Pay' to defence personnel, and suggested that Short Service Commissioned Officers should be allowed to exit the Armed Forces at any point in time between 7 and 10 years of service.
'If approved it will be a voluntary engagement and there will be no dilution in selection criteria'
The bench said denying permanent commission to women officers who have served the nation would result in serious miscarriage of justice.
'Today's India is fearless and is on track to be a great power. But this is definitely not happening without women, who form 48 per cent of our population.'
"There is no issue of gender discrimination," Dhowan said responding to queries on alleged gender bias in Indian Navy.
The Indian Navy granted permanent commission to seven women officers of the Short Service Commission batch of 2008-09.
The recommendations will benefit 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners.
Remadevi Thottathil, Indian Navy's first ever lady Air Traffic Controller takes us through her inspiring career journey.
Internal simmering in the army has come to a boil after the government tries to retain a discriminatory promotions policy.
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