Non-grant of permanent commission to lady officer: SC reproaches Navy action

The Supreme Court on Tuesday disapproved of non-grant of permanent commission to a 2007 batch Short Service Commission officer despite its direction.

Verbally observing that "enough is enough", a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant asked Naval authorities to shed their egos.

The bench asked the authorities to consider the case of 2007 batch Judge Advocate Generals (JAG or legal) branch officer Seema Chaudhary within a week and grant her permanent commission.


The bench told counsel appearing for the Centre and Naval authorities: "Enough is enough. Please mend your ways. We will give you one week to take her in for the permanent commission. Does the authority concerned think they can sit over the orders of the court? What kind of disciplined force are you?"

The bench, after examining the minutes of the selection board and the annual confidential reports of the officer, asked why Chaudhary was not taken in the permanent commission when the authorities claimed she had attained all benchmarks.

The bench verbally remarked: "The authority concerned has to shed its ego. How can you say that she is fit in all aspects but still we cannot take her in permanent commission? There is a clear-cut finding of this court that her case has to be considered on a standalone basis. Then why was she not considered till now?"

The counsel for authorities argued that though she checked all parameters, her three annual confidential reports (ACR) contained adverse remarks which couldn't be overlooked for the grant of permanent commission.

The bench asked the counsel to furnish the three ACRs and said the remarks made by initiating officers were eventually overruled by the reviewing officer and final authority even accorded her the full 7.6 marks.

The counsel said that the Navy did not have a closed mind and "she can be taken" upon a court direction. The counsel, however, sought time to take instructions on the matter. The bench posted the matter for orders after the court's summer break and said the 2024 judgement of the SC, passed in her review plea, had attained finality.