SC halts IAF's move to release woman officer denied permanent commission
NEW DELHI: Coming to the rescue of an Indian Air Force woman officer who was denied permanent commission, the Supreme Court on Monday, in its interim order, directed the Centre and the IAF not to release her from service until further hearing on August 6.
A two-judge vacation bench of the top court, headed by Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan, referred to the May 22 order of the court in which similar directions were issued to the Centre and the IAF.
The apex court passed the order after hearing a plea filed by Wing Commander Niketa Pandey and said the same directions would apply in the case of Wing Commander Kavita Bhati.
Stressing that it was 'without prejudice to the rights of the parties or equity in favour of the officer', the bench posted the matter for further hearing on August 6 before a regular bench, when a batch of petitions related to the IAF would be taken up.
The petitioner, Pandey — who was part of Operation Balakot and Operation Sindoor — claimed that she was denied permanent commission. 'I am unfairly treated and discriminated [against] on the issue of being granted permanent commission,' Pandey further alleged.
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