A critical review by Lieutenant General Rajeev Puri, the outgoing Corps Commander of 17 Corps, has flagged issues concerning women Commanding Officers in the Army. In a letter dated October 1, 2024, addressed to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command, Lt Gen Puri pointed out “ego issues,” “frequent complaints,” and “lack of empathy” noted within the units led by women officers.
The letter has triggered a debate among military officers and defence analysts on the Army’s attempt to ensure representation for women in its command positions after a Supreme Court order in 2023 paved the way for the assignment of 108 women officers to command positions outside the medical stream for the first time.
However, some Army sources said that Lt Gen Puri’s remarks were based on the small sampling of only seven women COs in the 17 Corps, whereas the Army has over 100 women COs in different formations. This has sparked speculation that the findings may represent personal experiences and not an overall perspective.
Lt Gen Puri said units under woman COs also had a greater problem of officer management, which includes a lack of sensitivity towards the personal needs of officers and subordinates. This was said to be evidenced by the evocation of authority to resolve conflicts rather than through conciliation.
The letter said woman COs tended to present minor complaints up the chain to higher headquarters, making the challenge to human resource management. Lt Gen Puri advocated addressing these challenges with a gender-neutral policy for postings and selections, improved training for instructors, and review of spouse coordination policies in line with compassionate grounds.
