Major Abindita Bisht & ORS. v. Union Of India & ORS.

$~108 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 14964/2025, CM APPLs. 61543/2025 & 61544/2025 MAJOR ABINDITA BISHT & ORS.

.....Petitioners Through:

Mr. J. Sai Deepak, Sr. Adv.

with Mr. Joby P. Varghese, Adv.

versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

.....Respondents Through:

Ms. Avshreya Pratap Singh Rudy, CGSC with Ms. Usha Jamnal, Ms.

Harshita Chaturvedi and Mr. Junaid Mahmood, Advs. for UOI with Maj Anish Muralidhar

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE OM PRAKASH SHUKLA ORDER (ORAL) % 25.09.2025 C. HARI SHANKAR, J.

1.

This writ petition is at the instance of Women Officers of the Judge Advocate General's Branch of the Indian Army, who are presently on Short Service Commission Officers and seek to be granted permanent Commission.

2.

Inasmuch as the petitioners are in service, they are subject to the provisions of the Army Act, 1950. Section 14 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 renders the cause in this petition amenable to

adjudication by the Armed Forces Tribunal1.

3.

Mr. J. Sai Deepak, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioners does not, on principle, contest this position. 4.

He, however, submits that the case is of considerable urgency and, therefore, seeks that directions may be issued to the AFT to expeditiously decide the matter. He submits that, if the relief sought is not granted, the services of the petitioners would come to an end in March 2026 as they are Short Service Commissioned officers. 5.

While we appreciate the urgency of the matter, we are unaware of the pendency of the matters before the AFT. Nonetheless, in view of the submission made, we reserve liberty with the petitioners to request the AFT to take up this matter on priority basis. We are sanguine that the AFT would treat the petition with the urgency it deserves.

6.

In order to expedite matters, we are not requiring the petitioners to reinstitute the petition before the AFT. We request the Registry of this Court to transmit this petition to the Registry of the AFT which shall thereafter register as an Original Application and list the matter before the appropriate Bench for hearing.

7.

We also direct the parties to appear before the concerned Bench of the AFT on 10 October 2025. No adjournment would be sought by 1 "AFT", hereinafter

the parties on the said date.

8.

We make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter one way or the other.

9.

The writ petition is disposed of.

C. HARI SHANKAR, J.

OM PRAKASH SHUKLA, J.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2025/aky