Centre opposing woman joining Coast Guard: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the Central government for its opposition to the grant of permanent commission (PC) to a woman Short Service Appointment (SSA) officer engaged with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) [Priyanka Tyagi vs Union of India and ors]..A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra allowed the petitioner, Priyanka Tyagi, to continue in service as a general duty officer.The bench also proceeded to transfer a similar petition from the Delhi High Court to itself. "The petition which has been filed before the High Court of Delhi deals with a significant constitutional issue relating to gender equality in the service of the Indian Coast Guard. As regards the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, this Court has rendered judgments resulting in the induction of women in the Armed Forces on a permanent basis. Unfortunately, the Indian Coast Guard continues to be an outlier. Particularly having regard to the broader constitutional mandate contained in Article 15 of the Constitution, the petition should be heard by this Court," the bench noted in its order.It led to an exchange with Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikramjit Banerjee who was appearing for the Central government."She (instant petitioner got the benefit because she could approach this Court; there will be others on the shortlist," the ASG said. "We have to be flag bearers and march with the nation. Earlier women could not join the bar or be fighter pilots, but now," the Court responded."Someone cannot steal the march over the other. Others are there similarly-placed", the ASG persisted."Look at the resistance to a woman joining the Coast Guard," the CJI retorted..The Supreme Court had in February criticised the Central government for denying PC to Tyagi. The bench had emphasised that the Coast Guard could not fall out of line when the Army and the Navy was granting permanent commission to women officers."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 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," the Court had said.The observation was made when ASG Banerjee, appearing for the Central government, had argued that the Coast Guard operates in a different domain compared to the Army and Navy.Attorney General R Venkataramani at today's hearing reiterated the above..Senior Advocate Archana Pathak Dave appeared for the woman officer..The case will next be heard on July 19..In its 2020 judgment in Babita Punia, the Supreme Court had held that women Short Service Commission officers are entitled to Permanent Commission at par with their male counterparts..[Read Order]