NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to consider the issue of granting permanent commission to women Coast Guard officers, saying, "if you do not do it, we will do it" as "women cannot be left out".
A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud told the Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre, that all these functionality etc argument does not hold water 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 said.
The Attorney General said he will ask the Coast Guard to file its response.
He also said there are structural differences with the Navy and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
Senior advocate Archana Pathak Dave, representing the petitioner Priyanka Tyagi, submitted that women officers are going on board ships in the Navy whereas in Indian Coast Guard, they are still not being considered.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on March 1.
Earlier on February 19, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Centre for taking a "patriarchal" approach on permanent commission for women in the Coast Guard. The court had then asked the Centre’s counsel why the force should be different when the Army and Navy have already implemented the policy.
The bench had said if the women can protect the borders, they can also protect the coasts.
It said the government keeps speaking of "women power" and it was time that it showed its commitment.
"You (the Union government) speak of Nari Shakti, 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 had then 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 had then asked the Centre.
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