As per case facts, a group of women Short Service Commission Officers (SSCWOs) from the Indian Army appealed against the denial of Permanent Commission, arguing unfairness in their evaluation process ... due to casual Annual Confidential Report (ACR) grading, limited access to career-enhancing appointments and courses stemming from their historical ineligibility for PC. Male SSCOs also appealed concerning vacancy calculations and their legitimate expectation for PC. The question arose whether the assessment process for Permanent Commission for women SSCOs was fair and free from discrimination given these systemic disadvantages and the application of vacancy caps. Finally, the Supreme Court found the evaluation framework for SSCWOs unfair, adversely affecting their merit due to entrenched disadvantages in career progression. It deemed the vacancy ceiling not sacrosanct and allowed the appeals of SSCWOs, granting PC to eligible officers still in service and pension benefits to those already released, while dismissing appeals from male SSCOs.