Why discriminate when training is same, women officers ask

New Delhi, Nov 19 : Twenty women officers of the Indian Army Thursday sought to know from the Delhi High Court why they were discriminated in service vis-a-vis the men when both got similar training.

Rekha Palli, counsel for the woman officers, submitted before a division bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.C. Garg: "It has been 60 years of our independence but still our mindset has not changed a bit and discrimination against women is still rampant.

"When men and women get the same training with same educational standards, then why women officers serving in short service commission cannot be granted permanent commission," Palli asked.

Challenging a July 2006 policy of the army, Palli said that there was one set of rules for women officers inducted into the army.

She said when the time came for extensions, they were promised they would stay on in the army but this never happened.

The court asked the government to submit by Dec 14 a performance chart of men and women while on duty.

The court was hearing the plea of the women officers who have filed a public interest petition challenging the government's proposal of Sep 29, 2008 to bypass them for future grant of permanent commission.

Currently, women are inducted into the army as officers under the Short Service Commission for a maximum period of 14 years. Their male colleagues are eligible to receive permanent commission after five years.