The Supreme Court has ruled that women Short Service Commission (SSC) officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force who were released after 14 years of service will be entitled to pension benefits, granting relief through a one-time measure.
A bench held that officers who were considered for Permanent Commission but were denied it will be deemed to have completed 20 years of qualifying service for pension purposes.
Under existing rules, a minimum of 20 years of service is required to qualify for pension. Invoking its extraordinary powers, the court extended this benefit as a one-time relief.
The court also ruled that women officers still in service will be eligible for Permanent Commission, subject to performance grading, medical fitness, vigilance and disciplinary clearance.
The judgment came on petitions filed by women officers of the Indian Air Force, including Wing Commander Sucheta Edan, who challenged the denial of Permanent Commission under policy changes introduced in 2019.
Court flags gaps in policy
The court observed that the performance criteria introduced under the 2019 Human Resource Policy were applied without giving officers a fair opportunity to meet them. It noted that officers inducted under SSC in 2007 were assessed for Permanent Commission in selection boards held in 2019, 2020 and 2021, but were released from service in 2021.
According to the bench, the new performance benchmarks were implemented without allowing adequate time for officers to adjust before the first selection process. It also held that the “service length criteria” should not have been used as a ground to deny Permanent Commission when officers were not given a proper opportunity for career progression.
Pension as one-time relief
The court directed that all SSC officers considered for Permanent Commission in the selection boards of 2019, 2020 and 2021 will be treated as having completed 20 years of service, making them eligible for pension and related benefits.
This benefit will also apply to those who were considered but declared ineligible. However, the court clarified that no arrears of pay will be granted.
The pension will be calculated on the basis of deemed completion of 20 years of service and will come into effect from November 1, 2025. (Agency)
