New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- The Supreme Court has directed the Indian Air Force to re-induct and reinstate former Short Service Commissioned Indian Air Force (IAF) Officer Priyanka Saxena, a war widow who had earlier served for 10 years before leaving the force in 2013 due to family commitments.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana invoked the apex court's powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to order her re-induction, while clarifying that the relief would be confined to the peculiar facts of her case and would not operate as a precedent in other cases.

"Her late husband's contributions to the nation cannot be ignored," the court had verbally remarked during the hearing.

In its order, ...