Latest news with #OperationBalakot
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
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.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SC stops Centre, IAF from releasing woman officer denied permanent commission
NEW DELHI: Coming to the aid of an Indian Air Force woman officer denied permanent commission, the Supreme Court on Monday 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 apex court, comprising Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice Manmohan, referred to its earlier order dated May 22, in which similar directions were issued to the Centre and the IAF. The top court passed the order after hearing a plea filed by wing commander Niketa Pandey and said same directions would apply in the case of wing commander Kavita Bhati. Stressing that without prejudice to the rights of the parties or equity in favour of the officer, the bench of the top court posted the hearing further to August 6 before a regular bench, when a batch of petitions related to the IAF would be taken up for hearing. The petitioner, Pandey -- who was part of the Operation Balakot and Operation Sindoor -- claimed that she was denied permanent commission. "I am unfairly treated and discriminated on the issue of being granted permanent commission," Pandey further alleged.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court stops Centre, IAF from releasing woman officer from service
The Supreme Court on Monday (June 16, 2025) directed the Centre and the Indian Air Force (IAF) not to release from service a woman officer, who was denied permanent commission. A Bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan referred to the May 22 order of the top court in which similar directions were passed to the Centre and the IAF on a plea of Wing Commander Niketa Pandey and said the same directions would apply in the case of Wing Commander Kavita Bhati. Without prejudice to the rights of the parties or equity in favour of the officer, the Bench said Wing Commander Kavita Bhati shouldn't be relieved and should be allowed to remain in service till the next hearing. Ms. Bhati, a short service commission officer, claimed she was wrongly denied permanent commission. The top court posted the hearing on August 6 before a regular bench, when matters related to IAF would be taken up for hearing. The top court on May 22 restrained the Centre and the IAF from releasing Pandey, who was part of Operation Balakot and Operation Sindoor but was denied permanent commission. Pandey claimed discrimination in granting permanent commission to her.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Tough life': SC directs IAF not to release woman officer who served in Operations Sindoor, Balakot till further orders
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court directed the government and the Indian Air Force (IAF) not to release Wing Commander Nikita Pandey from service, after she alleged discrimination in being denied permanent commission despite her critical role in Operation Balakot and Operation Sindoor. Noting a "tough life" for Short Service Commission (SSC) officers, the bench in "layman's suggestion" said its "uncertainty may not be good for the armed forces." A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh issued notice to the Centre and the IAF on Thursday, seeking their response on Pandey's plea, news agency PTI reported. She claimed that although she ranked second in the country among expert fighter controllers and had served over 13.5 years, she was being discharged due to a 2019 policy change that denied her a permanent commission. 'Our Air Force is one of the best organisations in the world. Officers are very commendable. The 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,' Justice Kant said. The bench expressed concern over the uncertainty faced by SSC officers, stating that a long tenure without permanent commission needed to be addressed. 'That sense of uncertainty may not be good for the armed forces. It's a layman's suggestion, because we are not experts. On minimum benchmarks, there can't be a compromise,' Justice Kant added. Representing Pandey, senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy argued that her client was an expert fighter controller, who had played a key role in the Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS) deployed during Operations Sindoor and Balakot. Pandey's case, Guruswamy said, was affected by policy shifts that gave her just a month's notice to end her career despite her stellar service record. Appearing for the government and the IAF, additional solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said that the officer had been found unfit by the selection board and had approached the apex court directly without first filing a representation. She also confirmed that a second selection board would now review Pandey's case. Bhati, herself from a military background, acknowledged the difficult position of SSC officers but explained, 'There are a limited number of posts. It's a very steep pyramid structure.' She noted that typically, 90–95 per cent of officers considered for permanent commission are found fit, but only a few miss out due to comparative merit. Justice Kant responded, urging a more accommodating approach, '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.' He also emphasised that women officers have performed exceedingly well and highlighted the need for systemic capacity to retain them. The court directed that Wing Commander Pandey must not be released from service until further orders and posted the matter for hearing on August 6. However, the bench clarified that no equity would be created in the officer's favour at this stage and that all contentions remain open.
Mint
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Who is IAF's Niketa Pandey? Supreme Court directs Centre to not release officer involved in Operation Sindoor, Balakot
The Supreme Court on Thursday, May 22, directed the Central government and the Indian Air Force (IAF) not to release from service a woman officer, Niketa Pandey, who was part of Operation Sindoor and Balakot. In her plea to the Supreme Court, the Wing Commander had alleged that she was denied a permanent commission afetr 13.5 years of service and claimed 'discrimination'. Hearing the woman officer's plea, the Supreme Court said uncertainty on service was 'not good' for such officers. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh also sought responses from the Centre and the IAF on the plea of Wing Commander Nikita Pandey. Justice Kant said, '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.' 'That sense of uncertainty may not be good for the Armed Forces. It's a layman's suggestion, because we are not experts. On minimum benchmarks, there can't be a compromise,' Justice Kant said. Wing Commander Niketa Pandey is an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer. According to the reports, Niketa Pandey joined through the Short Service Commission (SSC) route in 2011. She has played a crucial role in the air force for more than 13 and a half years. During her tenure, Niketa Pandey worked as a fighter controller. She was also instrumental in major operations against terror like Operation Balakot and Operation Sindoor. She has undergone multiple rounds of evaluation for a permanent commission and is now awaiting a final opportunity to be assessed by a third selection board. According to PTI, the woman officer also ranked second in the merit list of expert air fighter controllers in the country. Niketa Pandey has become the first Short Service Commission (SSC) officer from the Indian Air Force to secure a stay on her release. Earlier, on May 9, the Supreme Court granted similar relief to more than 50 women SSC officers in the Indian Army.
