‘Act, Or We Will’: SC Directs Centre To Grant Permanent Commission To Female ICG Officers

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central government to examine the matter of granting permanent commission to female Indian Coast Guard (ICG) officers, emphasising that “women must not be excluded” and cautioned that “if you fail to act, we will.”

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, informed Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre (ICG), that arguments based on functionality are not considered valid in 2024.

“Women cannot be left out. If you do not do it, we will do it. So, take a look at that,” the bench commented.

“I will ask them to file an affidavit. The Coast Guard is distinctly different from the Navy and Army. The board has been set up and it needs structural changes,” the Attorney General said, Bar and Bench reported.

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by ICG officer Priyanka Tyagi, who advocated permanent commission for eligible women officers joining the force through short service commission.

Senior advocate Archana Pathak Dave, representing Priyanka, contended that while female officers are being deployed on ships in the Navy, they are still not being considered for such roles in the Indian Coast Guard.

The top court earlier criticised the Centre for taking a “patriarchal” position regarding the matter of granting permanent commission to women in the Coast Guard. The court had questioned the Centre’s counsel about the rationale for treating the Coast Guard differently, especially when the Army and Navy had already implemented the policy.

The panel stressed that if women can defend the borders, they are equally capable of safeguarding the coasts.

“You (the Union) speak of Nari Shakti. Now show it here. I don’t think the Coast Guard can say that they can be out of bounds when the Army, Navy have done it,” the bench told the Centre’s counsel.

“Why are you so patriarchal that you do not want to see women in the Coast Guard sector? Why do you have an indifferent attitude towards the Coast Guard,” the bench questioned.

The next hearing in the case will be on March 1.