Wg Cdr Pooja denied permanent commission, moves Air Force Tribunal

New Delhi, July 14: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has denied permanent commission to Wing Commander Pooja Thakur. Unhappy with the decision, Wg Cdr Pooja has moved the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) today, hoping justice.

Wg Cdr Pooja shot to limelight after leading the Inter-Service Guard of Honour during United States President Barack Obama's visit to India last year. She thereby became the first women officer to do so.

While moving the AFT, she has termed the IAF decision as biased, arbitrary, unreasonable and discriminatory.
The AFT has admitted her plea and gave the IAF four weeks time respond.

Her lawyer Sudhanshu Pandey was quoted by ANI that it was not right for the IAF to deny the officer a permanent commission.

But IAF sources say that Wg Cdr Pooja was offered a Permanent Commission four years back, which she had rejected.

"There is no gender bias here and many officers of her batch have been given permanent commission. She wanted an extension which was granted. IAF had to look at the vacancies as well," the officer said.

OneIndia News