The Supreme Court of India warned the Indian army on Friday that it will be held in contempt for failing to award permanent commissions to female officers, as required by its order.
In a bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud, a bench found that the Army had engaged in contempt of court by not granting permanent commissions to women officers who had been granted favorable orders from the Supreme Court.
The bench, which also included Justice AS Bopanna, noted that, although the Indian Army has supreme authority, so does the constitutional court. The bench said, “We have given you a long rope. The remark we had made in the judgement allowing you to file an affidavit on the consideration taken was to ensure that you say what you are doing.”
The bench scheduled the matter for further hearing at 2 pm. After reconsideration, 39 women officers found to be eligible were cleared, but 25 others had their petitions rejected by the Center on October 22.
