Wing Commander Pooja Thakur, who led the Guard of Honour during US President Barack Obama’s visit last year, has taken the Indian Air Force (IAF) to the Armed Forces Tribunal after being denied full service.
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The Air Force has been asked to respond in four weeks.
“IAF says Pooja Thakur was offered permanent commission in 2012, she declined it then and now no new offer can be given,” said her lawyer.
Wing Commander Thakur was the first woman officer to lead an Inter-Service Guard of Honour last year when President Obama visited India for the Republic Day parade.
Mr Obama had said later at an event that the sight of “incredible” Indian women in the armed forces was one of his “favourite things” in India.
The officer, surprised at the praise, told NDTV “It feels good that we have been able to achieve our aim of giving him a befitting Guard of Honour. I am glad that he has appreciated it”.
The daughter of an army colonel, the Rajasthan officer joined the Air Force in 2000.
Last month, the Air Force took in its first batch of women fighter pilots, but as short service commission officers, which means they will serve for a maximum of 14 years and retire without benefits.
Permanent commission means women officers get an opportunity to rise to the rank of Lieutenant General and retire at 60 with full benefits like the men do. Sources say it is given to women on a case-to-case basis.
Wing Commander Thakur, the sources said, is an Administrative Officer and “each branch of the IAF has different criteria to grant women permanent commission.”
Women were allowed in the Ai Force as full officers in 2010 after nearly 50 women officers, including 22 from the IAF, moved court against discrimination.
Source: NDTV
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