As an immediate succor for them, the solicitor general said: 'Short Service officers are given an option to join a business course at top schools like the Indian Institutes of Management so as to immediately interface with a corporation.'

But the bench did not agree with the government's contention and asked why there is a difference between male and female officers.

'We have doubts on why you should do it for male officers and not for the women. Why are they treated differently?' the court asked.

Rekha Palli, counsel for the officers, argued: 'There are 35 percent vacancies in various departments. These women officers are highly trained and have been doing the same jobs for 14 years. But the armed forces do not want them any more despite the vacancies available.'