A TIMELINE

2003

In February, Babita Puniya, a practicing advocate in Delhi High Court, filed a PIL before the high court, seeking permanent commission for women officers recruited SSC in the armed officers, on par with their male colleagues. The same year, several groups of women officers -- from both the army and air force - approached the high court for relief. Their petition was tagged with that of Puniya.

2006

In 2006, a policy revision allowed them to serve for a maximum of 14 years as an SSC officer.

2008

In 2008, the Centre decided to grant permanent commission to SSC women officers in Judge Advocate General department and Army Education Corps and their corresponding branches in Air Force and Navy. More petitions were filed in Delhi high court in challenging the 2006 and 2008 circulars.

2010

In March 2010, a HC bench allowed the petition and directed the defence ministry to extend permanent commission benefits to the SSC women officers.

In July2010, the army challenged the order. The Supreme Court refused to put the HC order on hold, meaning the government was bound to implement the HC judgment. It, however, issued notice to women officers.

2019

In February 2019, the government took out a notice announcing PC to women but prospectively and made it applicable to only those women commissioned after this order was notified, keeping the serving officers out of the ambit.