SC orders Arshnoor Kaur’s induction into army’s JAG post, slams gender-based vacancy cap
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Indian Army to induct Arshnoor Kaur into the Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch. The court strongly criticised the Centre for allocating fewer posts to women despite declaring the cadre “gender neutral.”
A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan called the disparity, three posts for women compared to six for men, “arbitrary” and a violation of the right to equality.
“No nation can be secure if such policies are followed. The executive cannot reserve vacancies for men… The true meaning of gender neutrality and the 2023 rules is that the Union shall select the most meritorious candidates,” the court observed.
The bench noted that both petitioners in the case had ranked 4th and 5th in merit, ahead of several male candidates, but were excluded solely because of the reduced number of seats earmarked for women.
Granting relief only to Kaur, the court directed the Army to publish a combined merit list for future recruitment and select candidates irrespective of gender, while the second petitioner’s plea was dismissed.
During earlier hearings, the court had remarked: “If it’s permissible in the Air Force for a lady to fly a Rafale, what is so very difficult for the Army to appoint them in the JAG?”
The Army’s JAG branch comprises legally qualified officers who advise on military law, handle disciplinary proceedings, and ensure compliance with legal and human rights standards.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati had defended gender-based quotas, citing manpower assessments and pointing out that some Army branches, such as medical and dental, are reserved exclusively for women, an arrangement currently under legal challenge in the Delhi High Court.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
