The Supreme Court on Monday came down hard on the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) over the treatment meted out to a woman, who was discharged as a short service commission officer in 2021, and ordered the maritime force to re-induct her.
The bench headed by Chief justice D Y Chandrahud observed, “We have to be the flag bearers and march with the nation. Earlier, women could not join the bar, be fighter pilots,” said the bench, which also comprised justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, adding that resistance to the move to attain gender equality has to go.
Coming down hard on the ICG for resisting grant of permanent commission to women officers, the bench referred to the top court’s verdicts on grant of permanent commission to women officers in the Army, Air Force and Navy and said that the discrimination has to end.
While ordering the ICG to take back Priyanka Tyagi into the force the bench said, “Is this the way you people treat your women officers?”
The bench also directed the ICG to re-induct Tyagi to the post which she occupied on the date of discharge from the service in 2023.
The apex court also transferred to itself the pending plea of Tyagi from the Delhi High Court.
The petitioner has sought permanent commission to eligible women short service commission officers of the ICG.