The Delhi High Court has directed that the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) decide, with expedition, the petition filed by several women officers from the Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch of the Indian Army seeking grant of permanent commission. These officers currently hold Short Service Commission (SSC) and contend that they should be eligible for permanent commission in their branch. The Court underscored that, since they are in service, they fall under the purview of the Army Act, 1950, and that their cause must be adjudicated by the AFT under Section 14 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.
Senior Advocate J Sai Deepak, representing the women officers, did not dispute the AFT’s jurisdiction. Rather, he emphasized the urgency of the matter and requested that the Tribunal be directed to take up the case at the earliest. The Delhi High Court acknowledged this urgency but observed that it was not aware of the exact status or pendency before the AFT.
Because of the urgency and to avoid procedural delays, the High Court declined to require the petitioners to refile before the AFT. Instead, the Court instructed its own Registry to transmit the petition to the AFT’s Registry, where it would be registered as an Original Application and then listed before the appropriate Bench. The Court further directed that the parties appear before that Bench of the AFT on a specified date and made it clear that no adjournments would be permitted on that date.
While issuing this direction, the High Court made it explicit that it had not expressed any view on the merits of the petition. After giving these directions, the Court disposed of the writ petition. The case before the High Court is styled Major Abindita Bisht & Ors v. Union of India & Ors.
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