At a Congress party briefing on Saturday, retired Wing Commander Anuma Acharya hailed the Supreme Court’s recent verdict as a “great relief,” especially in the prevailing national atmosphere, stating it significantly boosts the morale of women officers in the armed forces.
Acharya pointed out that the verdict addresses a long-standing injustice faced by many women officers who were denied pensionable service despite their contributions. "Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is also among those included. She received pensionable service as per the 2020 decision, and naval officers got it the following year. However, this benefit was granted only to those who fought their case in court," she noted.
The Supreme Court's ruling comes as a landmark step toward gender parity in the Indian Armed Forces. Acharya emphasized that although some improvements began in 2006, true parity remained elusive for many women until judicial intervention forced systemic change. “Since 2006, some positive changes have occurred, and policies have continued to evolve,” she added.
