In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the right of Short Service Commission Officers (SSCOs) in the Indian Navy to be considered fairly for Permanent Commission. The case involved roughly 25 officers—mostly women but some men—inducted between 1999 and 2011, who were not granted Permanent Commission in 2020-22 selection processes. The Court found that ACRs (performance records) were biased because officers were graded while deemed ineligible for career advancement, and that selection criteria were not disclosed beforehand. As a one-time measure, rather than ordering yet another selection board, the Court granted Permanent Commission directly to eligible SSCOs from disadvantaged categories and gave pension benefits to those already released from service, ensuring transparent and equitable treatment in future navy selections.
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