SC Stops IAF From Removing Officer Involved In Operation Sindoor After She Alleges Discrimination

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Centre and the Indian Air Force to refrain from releasing a woman officer from service. The officer served under the Short Service Commission (SSC) while being involved in Operation Balakot and Operation Sindoor. Wing Commander Nikita Pandey filed a plea with the apex court citing grounds of discrimination for being denied permanent commission.  

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh sought responses from the centre and the IAF, regarding the latter as a professional force highlighting that the uncertainty on service was not ideal for such officers. 

Justice Surya Kant asserted that, "Our Air Force is one of the best organisations in the world. Officers are very commendable. Quality of coordination they have exhibited, I think it's unparalleled. Therefore, we always salute them. They are a big asset for the nation. They are the nation, in a way. Because of them, we are able to sleep at night."

Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy representing the officer highlighted that she ranked second in the merit list of expert air fighter controllers in the country and had served for over 13.5 years. She also claimed her client to be an expert flight controller and was employed as an expert in the Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS) during Operation Sindoor and Operation Balakot. 

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati representing the centre and the IAF argued that the officer was found unfit by the selection board that led to the rejection in granting permanent commission. 

The bench said that, "Due to the lack of permanent commission for women officers after a long duration, Short Service Commission recruitment is taking place. That is the reason that inter se competition arises after 10, 12 and 15 years. You can have a policy of taking that many SCC officers, who can be accommodated in the Permanent Commission, if they are found suitable. If you have 100 SCC officers, you should have the capacity to take 100 of them to the permanent commission.바카라� 

The solicitor General reverted that usually 90-95 percent officers are selected but some lose out due to competitive merit. She further claimed that, "There are a limited number of posts, it's a very steep pyramid structure."

The court has posted the hearing for 6 August and ordered for the officer to not be removed until further orders.