New Delhi, Feb 17 (PTI) The Defence Accounts Department has asked the armed forces' pension disbursal authority to grant pension to around 15 women Army officers after it emerged that they are yet to receive the benefit nearly a year after retirement, people familiar with the development said on Thursday.

The short-service commission women officers have not yet received the pension notwithstanding an order by the Supreme Court in February 2020 that had paved the way for extending the pension benefit to women officers with a service tenure of 20 years.

Also Read | Bengaluru Shocker: HIV Positive Man Forces Wife Into Unprotected Sex for Leaving Him; Case Registered.

In a letter, the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) has communicated to the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) in Allahabad to grant the pension benefit to the women officers as soon as possible, the people said.

They said the problem arose due to a new online pension disbursal system called SPARSH that was rolled out last year. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) handles the new system.

Also Read | ‘Firozabad Glass Bangle’ Industry Struggles to Recover Post-COVID-19, Hopes Next Govt to Reopen Shut Factories.

In the order, the Supreme Court said that "short service commission women officers with over 20 years of service who are not granted PC (permanent commission) shall retire on pension in terms of the (government's) policy decision.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)