The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Indian Air Force to reinstate its 14 women officers who retired after their short-service commission tenure and sought permanent commission like their male counterparts.
A bench headed by Justice R M Lodha passed the order on a plea filed by the 14 officers seeking direction to the government to grant them permanent commission.
The bench, however, said their reinstatement would be subject to the officers fulfilling the condition of suitability and fitness as laid down in the IAF policy.
The apex court had granted similar interim relief to women officers in the army, a matter which is still pending before it.
The court had last September directed the army to reinstate 11 Short Service Commission women officers who had been released after completion of 14 years in service.
The reinstatement of the officers would be subject to the outcome of the appeal filed by the army against the March 12, 2010 judgement of the Delhi high court.
The Centre had moved the apex court on July 6, 2010 challenging the high court verdict which directed it to grant permanent commission to women officers.
The women officers had approached the high court seeking its directions to the Centre to stop alleged discrimination against them.
The high court had rejected the plea of the government that permanent commission could be allowed only for future recruitment and the benefit could not be given retrospectively for the serving and retired women officers who had approached the court.