Latest news with #OperationBalakot
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.
News18
23-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
SC Directs IAF Not To Release Officer Part Of Op Sindoor Who Was Denied Permanent Commission
Last Updated: Wing Commander Nikita Pandey had alleged discrimination for being denied permanent commission in the Air Force. The matter will be taken up on August 6. The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Central government and the Indian Air Force (IAF) not to release a woman officer from service, who was part of Operation Balakot in 2019 and Operation Sindoor, but was denied permanent commission. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh sought responses from the Centre and IAF while hearing a plea from Wing Commander Nikita Pandey, who alleged discrimination for being denied permanent commission. The bench noted that a 'tough life" for Short Service Commission (SSC) officers began following their recruitment, which called for some incentive after 10 or 15 years to grant them permanent commission. Justice Kant hailed the Air Force as one of the best organisations in the world and an asset to the nation, but said the uncertainty may hurt the force. '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," he said. Who Is Wing Commander Nikita Pandey? Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing Wing Commander Pandey, said her client was an expert fighter controller, who participated as an expert in the Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS), which were deployed in Operation Sindoor and Operation Balakot. Pandey had served over 13.5 years in service but was impacted by a 2019 policy that denied her permanent commission and forced her to conclude her service after a month. She ranked second in the merit list of expert air fighter controllers in India, her counsel said. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre and the IAF, told the court that the petitioner was found unfit by the selection board. She said the officer directly moved the apex court without filing any representation and informed the bench that a second selection board would be considering her case. The Supreme Court has directed that Wing Commander Pandey remain in service until further notice, adjourning the matter to August 6. However, it clarified that this interim relief would not grant her any legal advantage, and all issues in the case will remain open for consideration. Bhati said a 'steep pyramidal structure" was followed by the IAF, which requires that certain officers go out of the service after serving 14 years and new officers come in their place. Justice Kant told Bhati that the armed forces should have the capacity to accommodate all SSC officers in the permanent commission, highlighting that women officers performed exceedingly well. First Published: May 23, 2025, 12:27 IST
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court directs Centre, IAF not to release officer part of Operation Sindoor from service
The Supreme Court of India on Thursday (May 22, 2025) directed the Centre and the Indian Air Force not to release from service a woman officer, who was part of Operation Balakot and Operation Sindoor but was denied permanent commission. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh sought responses from the Centre and the IAF on the plea of Wing Commander Nikita Pandey who claimed discrimination for being denied permanent commission. The Bench called IAF a professional force and said the uncertainty on service was not good for such officers. "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," Justice Kant said. The Bench noted a "tough life" for Short Service Commission (SSC) officers began following their recruitment, which called for some incentive after 10 or 15 years to grant them permanent commission. "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. Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for the officer, said her client was an expert fighter controller, who participated as an expert in the Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS), which were deployed in Operation Sindoor and Operation Balakot. The senior counsel submitted that the officer had served more than 13.5 years in service but was impacted by a 2019 policy that denied her permanent commission and forced her to conclude her service after a month. 'The officer ranked second in the merit list of expert air fighter controllers in the country,' Ms. Guruswamy added. The Bench asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre and the IAF, the reason for not granting the officer permanent commission. Ms. Bhati revealed she belonged to an armed forces background herself, therefore, being receptive of the predicament of such officers but argued that the petitioner was found unfit by the selection board. She said the officer directly moved the Supreme Court without filing any representation and informed the Bench that a second selection board would be considering her case. The Bench ordered Ms. Pandey not to be released from service till further orders and posted the hearing on August 6. The Supreme Court, however, said no equity would be created in her favour and left open all the contentions in the case. Ms. Bhati had no objections in the officers continuing in service as most of the officers in the armed forces were brilliant officers but ultimate question related to the comparative merit and the need for keeping the forces young. She said a "steep pyramidal structure" was followed by IAF which requires that certain officers go out of the service after serving 14 years and new officers come in their place. Justice Kant told Ms. Bhati that armed forces should have the capacity to accommodate all SSC officers in the permanent commission, highlighting women officers performed exceedingly well. "Due to the lack of permanent commission for women officers after a long duration, Short Service Commission recruitment are 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," the judge said. Ms. Bhati replied that normally out of 100 officers considered for the permanent commission, almost 90-95% officers were found fit but some lost out only on account of comparative merit. "There are a limited number of posts, it's a very steep pyramid structure," she said.
India Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Supreme Court halts IAF's release of officer involved in Op Sindoor from service
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a stay on the release of Wing Commander Sucheta from the Indian Air Force after she was denied permanent commission. The officer reportedly participated in the recently concluded Operation Sindoor and Operation Balakot in the judgement, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh stayed her release from the Air Force until further Surya Kant lauded the Indian Air Force for its achievements and said that they are proud of such brave officers. The court has also issued a notice to the Central government and the Indian Air Force on the petition of the Wing Commander. On being questioned as to why she was being denied a Permanent Commission, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bharti said that a Board had found her unfit; however, a second Board is set to consider her case, reported Live this, Justice Kant said, "Let her continue for some time."According to the Live Law report, while staying her release from the service, the bench clarified that the order shall not create any equities in favour of the officer."Our defence forces are the best and these women officers are brilliant. The level of professional quality and coordination they displayed during Balakot or Operation Sindoor is unmatched. That is why we salute them. They are definitely the wealth of our nation. In other words, they are the nation. They can see even in the darkness of night," said Justice Surya Bharti submitted that most officers in the forces are brilliant, but the question boils down to comparative merit. She emphasised the need to keep the forces young and stated the the 'steep pyramidical structure' requires certain officers to 'go out' after serving 14 years, the Live Law report InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Supreme Court
