New Delhi, May 23 -- 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...