New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Indian Air Force (IAF) not to discharge Wing Commander Kavita Bhati, a short service commission officer who was denied permanent commission. The court's decision ensures that Bhati will remain in service until the next hearing on August 6.

The court's order mirrors a previous ruling in the case of Wing Commander Niketa Pandey, who faced a similar denial of permanent commission. The bench, comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan, referred to the May 22 order in Pandey's case and applied similar directions to Bhati's case.

Bhati has alleged that she was wrongly denied permanent commission, despite her qualifications and service record. The court's decision is without prejudice to the rights of the parties involved, allowing Bhati to continue serving pending the resolution of her claim.

The issue of the permanent commission for short-service commission officers in the IAF has been a contentious one, with several officers alleging discrimination and bias in the grant of permanent commission.

PTI