Systemic sexual harassment, institutional failures exposed in Indian army

(Web Desk) – Over the past decade, the Indian Army – often portrayed as a disciplined and patriotic force – has faced growing scrutiny over its failure to protect women officers from sexual harassment, assault, and abuse of authority.

Multiple verified cases from 2015 to 2025 reveal a disturbing pattern of intimidation, institutional cover-ups, and legal negligence that have eroded confidence in the military’s internal justice system.

In 2025, a woman Major serving in the 1 Armoured Division in Patiala accused a Lieutenant Colonel of sexual harassment. Instead of invoking the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), the authorities opted for an informal internal inquiry, sidestepping the required Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) process.

Reports suggest attempts were made to pressure the complainant to withdraw her case — an alarming reflection of the systemic bias women officers continue to face.

This incident mirrors a decade-long trend across India’s armed forces. In 2015, a Captain in the Signal Corps accused her senior Colonel of harassment; the investigation suffered from delays and reluctance to act. Between 2021 and 2025, a Major was convicted through a General Court Martial for sexually abusing an 11-year-old domestic worker, only after intervention by civilian courts.

In Srinagar (2024), a woman officer in the Indian Air Force endured physical and psychological abuse by a Wing Commander, who later obtained anticipatory bail. Similarly, in Shillong (2024–2025), a Brigadier was accused of harassing a Colonel’s wife, yet police delays stalled progress.

In other shocking cases, army officers were implicated in group assaults in Madhya Pradesh (2024), and in Odisha (2025), a Colonel accused senior generals of raping his wife—claims that were reportedly ignored by local police. Meanwhile, in Chandigarh (2025), a Colonel was dismissed for an illicit affair involving forged documents and repeated misconduct, raising further concerns about moral decline within senior ranks.

Experts and legal observers point to recurring patterns: systemic misuse of rank, evasion of accountability, and intimidation of victims. The POSH Act remains largely unenforced in military structures, and Internal Complaints Committees—where they exist—are often ineffective. Civilian oversight is further weakened by military jurisdiction and laws like AFSPA, leaving victims with limited access to justice.

Despite increasing reports from women officers, genuine institutional reform remains absent. The repeated failures of military leadership to uphold justice not only betray the victims but also undermine the Indian Army’s core values of honor, discipline, and integrity.

These revelations from judicial and media records spanning 2015–2025 expose an uncomfortable truth: India’s women in uniform continue to battle not just external enemies—but a deep-rooted culture of silence and impunity within their own ranks.