In Supreme Court verdict on PC to women officers, Col Sofiya Qureshi figured at top

NEW DELHI: Col Sofiya Qureshi, who briefed media with foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Wg Cdr Vyomika Singh on India's airstrikes on terror hubs in Pakistan, had figured prominently in Supreme Court's Feb 17, 2020 judgment granting permanent commission to women short service commission officers in armed forces.

The judgment titled 'Secretary, ministry of defence vs Babita Puniya' by a bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi referred to the women officers; affidavit detailing the services rendered by women SSC officer in the cause of the nation, working shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts.

Writing the judgment, Justice Chandrachud, who later became CJI, had said, "Women officers of Indian Army have brought laurels to the force. These are and have not been controverted." The bench listed 11 women officers and Qureshi figured at the top of the list.

" Lieutenant Colonel Sofiya Qureshi (Army Signal Corps) is the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multi-national military exercise named ' Exercise Force 18 ' which is the largest ever foreign military exercise hosted by India. She has served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo in 2006 where she, along with others, was in charge of monitoring ceasefires in those countries and aiding in humanitarian activities. Her job included ensuring peace in conflict affected areas," SC had recorded.