A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra allowed the petitioner, Priyanka Tyagi, to continue in service as a general duty officer.

The bench also proceeded to transfer a similar petition from the Delhi High Court to itself.

"The petition which has been filed before the High Court of Delhi deals with a significant constitutional issue relating to gender equality in the service of the Indian Coast Guard. As regards the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, this Court has rendered judgments resulting in the induction of women in the Armed Forces on a permanent basis. Unfortunately, the Indian Coast Guard continues to be an outlier. Particularly having regard to the broader constitutional mandate contained in Article 15 of the Constitution, the petition should be heard by this Court," the bench noted in its order.

It led to an exchange with Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikramjit Banerjee who was appearing for the Central government.

"She (instant petitioner got the benefit because she could approach this Court; there will be others on the shortlist," the ASG said.

"We have to be flag bearers and march with the nation. Earlier women could not join the bar or be fighter pilots, but now," the Court responded.

"Someone cannot steal the march over the other. Others are there similarly-placed", the ASG persisted.

"Look at the resistance to a woman joining the Coast Guard," the CJI retorted.

We can intervene in principles of law but cannot run the Army: Supreme Court