Women should not just strive to equal men but go far ahead of them, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The note containing the government’s views on permanent commission for women officers in the Army has raised eyebrows. It said the “physiological limitations” of women officers, lower physical standards of women officers compared to men, prolonged absence due to pregnancy, children’s education, husband’s career prospects, etc, were great challenges for women officers to meet the exigencies of service. Thus, the posting of women officers in all-male units had its own “peculiar dynamics”, it noted. Changed battlefield environment, hybrid nature of warfare composing of non-linear battlefields and counter-insurgency operations have also been quoted as reasons against bringing women officers to the frontline.

Source: The Hindu February 05, 2020 07:50 UTC