In Brief
An airman enrolled in the Indian Air Force sought to leave service to take up civilian employment with Bank of India without completing the mandatory seven-year service requirement or obtaining prior permission, in violation of Air Force Order 14/2008. The Supreme Court held that armed forces members do not have an unqualified right under Article 19(1)(g) to leave service at will; such rights are restricted under Article 33 to maintain discipline and operational readiness. The Court invoked its equitable jurisdiction under Article 142, directing issuance of a final NOC and discharge after eight years had elapsed, conditioned upon the appellant depositing Rs 3 lakhs as compensation for breach of statutory obligations.
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