In a notable legal development, the Central government's refusal to grant permanent commission (PC) to a female Short Service Appointment (SSA) officer serving in the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has drawn sharp criticism from the Supreme Court of India. The apex court, led by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, has underscored the imperative for uniformity across all branches of the armed forces in the extension of permanent commission privileges to women officers.

Expressing dismay at the disparity in treatment, it was emphasized by the Court the inconsistency in the Coast Guard's stance compared to the Army and Navy, where permanent commission has already been extended to women officers. Chief Justice Chandrachud voiced the sentiment, stating, "The Babita Punia judgment has not been adequately considered," referring to the landmark 2020 judgment affirming the entitlement of women Short Service Commission officers to Permanent Commission.

The Court's scrutiny was further intensified as Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikramjit Banerjee, representing the Centre, contended that the Coast Guard operates in a distinct domain compared to its counterparts. However, the judiciary remained steadfast, questioning the rationale behind denying permanent commission to women officers in the Coast Guard.

With pointed queries, the Bench questioned why women were being excluded from the Coast Guard while highlighting their presence in the Navy. "Why is such a patriarchal stance adopted that women are not seen in the Coast Guard segment? The presence of women in the Navy raises further questions about the Coast Guard's exceptionality. We will open up the entire canvas. The era where women were deemed unsuitable for Coast Guard service is long gone," the Court asserted.

The judicial intervention harks back to the landmark 2020 judgment in Babita Punia, where the Court unequivocally affirmed the entitlement of women Short Service Commission officers to Permanent Commission, aligning their rights with those of their male counterparts. The judgment also censured the Centre's reliance on gender stereotypes and societal norms regarding gender roles, rejecting the notion that men are inherently stronger while women are deemed weak and submissive.