The Supreme Court has clarified that the Judge Advocate General (JAG) recruitment process must adhere to gender-neutral criteria, reinforcing the Armed Forces’ constitutional obligation of equality. The ruling came amid petitions alleging discriminatory practices in shortlisting male and female candidates, marking another step toward inclusive military service norms.

On Aug 11, 2025, the Supreme Court struck down the Army’s policy reserving more JAG branch posts for men than women, ruling it violated Articles 14 and 15. The court ordered a unified merit list, stating gender should not limit legal roles in the military. This landmark judgment reinforces meritocracy and gender neutrality in armed forces recruitment.