The Supreme Court has temporarily stopped the Indian Air Force (IAF) from letting go of a woman officer, Wing Commander Nikita Pandey, who played a key role in major military operations like Operation Sindoor and Operation Balakot. She was not given a Permanent Commission (PC) and was about to be relieved from service.
A Supreme Court bench, including Justices Surya Kant and N. K. Singh, questioned the government on why Pandey wasn’t granted PC. The government lawyer, Aishwarya Bhati, said that a Board had reviewed her case and denied her PC, but now a second review is planned. She also pointed out that Pandey had come directly to the court for help.
Bhati explained that even though these officers are highly skilled, not everyone can be granted a permanent role due to the structure of the armed forces. Some officers have to leave after 14 years to keep the force young and efficient.
Justice Kant praised the IAF, calling it “one of the best in the world,” and said officers like Pandey are a valuable asset to the nation.
Pandey’s lawyer, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, argued that she is a highly experienced fighter controller and contributed significantly in recent critical missions. However, due to a policy from 2019, she was told to leave service after just one more month.
Justice Kant suggested that if the IAF recruits 100 short service commission (SSC) officers, they should plan to give permanent commission to all, unless someone fails to meet basic standards. He added that once officers are selected, their real challenges begin, and there should be some assurance—like a permanent position after 10 years—to remove uncertainty and boost morale.
He stressed that even though courts are not military experts, giving such security can be helpful. The case will now be heard again on August 6.
The government lawyer added that many women are already getting permanent roles in the forces and performing very well. However, the military must also consider the need to maintain a younger force, which affects decisions like these.
