Army orders probe into leaked letter criticizing women commanding officers
What's the story
The Indian Army has ordered a court of inquiry into the leak of an internal letter that slammed the performance of women commanding officers (COs).
The letter was allegedly written by Lieutenant General Rajeev Puri and raised concerns in units headed by women in the eastern sector.
The problems stated included officer management, a perceived lack of empathy, over-ambition to a lack of ambition, and an exaggerated tendency to complain.
Defense statement
Army chief defends women officers' performance
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi defended the performance of women officers during his annual media briefing.
He described them as "mature, considerate, and kind."
The controversial letter on "command by women officers" was an internal communication to Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari, based on an "in-house review" by the Panagarh-based mountain strike corps.
Historic shift
Women's command roles in Army since 2023
The Indian Army started appointing women to permanent commission roles in 2020 and after a Supreme Court order in 2023.
It was a major shift, enabling women to command units outside the medical stream for the first time.
The process was expedited, and some exceptions were made in their training as compared to their male counterparts.
"Overall if you see, we have 115 women COs, and 18 more are approved and ready to take on the role," General Dwivedi said.
Success stories
Army chief cites successful women COs
He cited Colonel Ponung Doming as a successful woman CO, whose unit is engaged in constructing a high-altitude road in Ladakh's Demchok sector and upgrading the Nyoma advanced landing ground.
In February 2023, the army also held a special selection board to elevate 108 female officers to the rank of select-grade colonel, with the goal of achieving gender parity, assigning them command posts in select branches, and providing them with new hard-earned identities.