NEW DELHI: Even as the Chiefs of Staff Committee begins examining the possibility of giving permanent commission to women, it now transpires that the Army had submitted its objections to such a move in response to a court case. In an affidavit filed by the Army Headquarters in the Delhi High Court, the Army has argued that it is not possible to give extensive assignments to women officers because of "organisational hierarchy, lack of mobility" besides the possibility of stagnancy because of the "limited role" played by them.

However, the Army said a regular commission could be granted if the Government took a policy decision in this regard. The case was filed in 2003, shortly after the first batch of women officers under the Women's Special Entry Scheme retired after 10 years of service. It was argued that the women retired even though they were medically fit and had given the prime of their youth to the Army.

In response, the Army said the Government would have to consider the social and largely rural background of the troops whom the lady officers might command if they were inducted as permanent officers.

There were also "assignment constraints on utilisation of women officers to a great extent." At present, women are trained at the Officers' Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, "in such a way that it is less demanding physically and therefore the female officers generally receive lower ratings than men in physical training, leadership and tactical subjects."

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