When Supreme Court Praised Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Know Why?

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When Supreme Court Praised Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, Know Why?

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a distinguished officer of the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals, has once again become a symbol of women’s growing leadership in the armed forces. On Wednesday, she co-led the high-stakes press briefing on Operation Sindoor, India’s multi-service precision strike operation against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force.

What added depth to the moment was the echo of recognition that came years earlier — from the Supreme Court of India itself. In its landmark 2020 judgment that allowed Permanent Commission (PC) for women officers in the Indian Army, the top court had highlighted Colonel Qureshi’s career as a shining example of what women in uniform can achieve when given equal opportunity.

In the February 17, 2020 verdict, the Supreme Court dismantled the long-standing practice of denying women command appointments and limited them to staff roles. The bench made a powerful observation that gender could not be a valid ground to bar women from leadership in the military. As part of this decision, the court specifically mentioned Colonel Qureshi’s achievements, stating:

“Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi (Army Signal Corps) is the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent at a multi-national military exercise named 'Exercise Force 18', the largest-ever foreign military exercise hosted by India.”

The court also referred to her role in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Congo in 2006, where she was involved in monitoring ceasefires and overseeing humanitarian initiatives in conflict zones.

Meet Colonel Sophia Qureshi: Decorated Army Officer Who Briefed Media on Operation Sindoor

The court had called it "disturbing" that arguments against women officers’ command appointments were based on their “biological composition and social milieu”, affirming that such claims were against the “solemn constitutional values” of equality and dignity. The judgment emphasized that women officers like Colonel Qureshi had brought laurels to the Indian Army and deserved the same avenues for career advancement as their male counterparts.

The Operation Sindoor Moment

Fast forward to May 2025 — Colonel Qureshi was once again in the national spotlight. She stood on the dais with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, briefing the media on Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike launched by India after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 civilians. Under Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force launched coordinated strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK.

Her presence at the briefing, in a moment of national significance, stood as a testament to both merit and the evolving role of women in India’s military apparatus.


Born in Vadodara, Gujarat in 1974, Colonel Qureshi holds a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. Commissioned into the Corps of Signals, her career has spanned operational and strategic domains — from flood relief operations in Northeast India to key international military collaborations.

Her breakthrough came in 2016, when she became the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army contingent at the multinational field training exercise ‘Exercise Force 18’, conducted to foster interoperability among ASEAN nations.


Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s career is not just a personal triumph; it embodies the progress of India’s armed forces towards inclusivity and equality. From being cited in a historic Supreme Court verdict to commanding international military exercises, and now co-leading critical briefings during a national security operation — she is a symbol of empowerment and professionalism in uniform.

As India navigates modern warfare and complex threats, it does so with leaders like Colonel Qureshi at the helm — leaders who break barriers not just with their presence, but through excellence, resilience, and service to the nation.

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2 comments

A great adventures Army Officer brought laurels to Indian Armed Forces and examples to all other Armed Forces lady officers.

MWO(R) JP Singh

Very good job 👍

KP Joshi

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