A former woman officer of the Indian Army, Captain Sukhjit Pal Kaur Sanewal (Retd), has filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking the replacement of the term “ex-serviceman” with gender-neutral alternatives such as “ex-service members” or “ex-service personnel.” The High Court, comprising Acting Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Nidhi Gupta, has issued a notice to the central government regarding this matter.
Captain Sanewal, among the initial Short Service Commission woman officers in the Army, argued that the term “ex-serviceman” misgenders former women officers like herself. Despite the inclusion of women in various roles in the Army since the 1990s, including command appointments, government policies and schemes continue to use gendered language.
In her plea, Captain Sanewal emphasized the importance of removing gendered language to foster a more inclusive environment in the defense services. She stated, “While much progress has been made, the continued use of gendered language remains a significant, yet easy to remove, stumbling block to a more inclusive environment in the defense services.”
The petitioner’s plea not only addresses the issue of misgendering but also highlights the outdated nature of the terminology, emphasizing the promotion of gender stereotypes. The court’s notice to the central government indicates that the matter will be subject to legal scrutiny in the coming proceedings.
