The Supreme Court of India has once again taken a firm stance on the issue of gender equality within the Indian armed forces (IAF). The bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, questioned the Central government's opposition to granting permanent commission (PC) to a woman Short Service Appointment (SSA) officer serving with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). 

This development comes in the wake of a petition filed by Priyanka Tyagi, seeking permanent commission status, which the court has allowed her to continue in her service as a general duty officer. The Supreme Court, noting the resistance within the Indian Coast Guard to the idea of women officers obtaining permanent commission, highlighted the importance of aligning with the progressive direction set by the Army and Navy in this regard. 

The bench emphasized that gender should not be a barrier to service within the armed forces and criticized the patriarchal attitudes that obstruct women from joining the Coast Guard segment.

The bench stated that, “You speak of 'Nari shakti Nari shakti'. Now show it here. You are in the deep end of the sea here. ... Why be so patriarchal that you do not want to see women in the Coast Guard segment? What is so special about Coast Guard? We will open up the whole canvas. Times are gone where we say women cannot be in the Coast Guard. Women can guard the borders. Women can guard the coasts as well.”

This legal dispute echoes previous rulings by the Supreme Court, particularly its landmark 2020 judgment in Babita Punia, where it held that women Short Service Commission officers are entitled to Permanent Commission on par with their male counterparts. Despite this precedent, the Central government's resistance to extending permanent commission to women officers in the Coast Guard remains a point of contention before the courts.

During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, representing the Central government, argued that the Coast Guard operates in a different domain compared to the Army and Navy. However, the bench refuted this argument, emphasizing the need for uniformity in granting permanent commission across all branches of the armed forces.

Attorney General R Venkataramani reiterated the government's position, echoing the argument that the Coast Guard operates differently from other branches. However, the bench's response indicates a strong commitment to upholding principles of gender equality and ensuring that women have equal opportunities for service in all segments of the armed forces.

Senior Advocate Archana Pathak Dave represented the interests of the woman officer, Priyanka Tyagi, in this legal battle, advocating for her right to equal treatment and opportunities within the Indian Coast Guard.