As per case facts, six Short Service Commission Women Officers (SSCWOs) in the Indian Air Force were denied Permanent Commission (PC) through multiple selection processes, stemming from a policy embargo ... on PC grants for officers commissioned after 2006. They argued that the new policy, HRP 01/2019, was implemented too quickly, and their Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) were assessed for short-term service, not PC, with some assessments impacted by maternity leave. The question arose whether the Appellants' ACRs were casually graded, thereby affecting their merit for PC, and if the newly introduced minimum performance criteria and its hurried implementation arbitrarily excluded them from PC consideration. Finally, the Supreme Court ruled that the ACRs, not intended for PC assessment, could not be used to deny PC, and the hasty implementation of new performance criteria without reasonable opportunity was arbitrary. As a one-time measure, all SSCOs considered for PC in 2019-2021 are deemed to have completed 20 years of service and are entitled to pension and consequential benefits, excluding pay arrears, with future selection boards requiring clear instructions on vacancies and evaluation.