SC blasts Army for eyewash in arms sales scam

Dhananjay Mahapatra.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rapped the Army for letting off senior officers with "pittance of a punishment" for illegally selling non-service pattern weapons in border districts of Rajasthan and sought the Centre's view in two weeks on reopening the cases to award deterrent punishment

A bench of Justices H L Dattu and S A Bobde said the weapons could have fallen in the hands of terrorists or gangsters who could kill many and it was being done by senior Army officers who are duty bound to protect citizens.

"It shocks our conscience that they were let off with pittance of a punishment," the bench said. It told attorney general Mukul Rohatgi that the general court martial (GCM) proceedings for award of punishment to 72 officers and a junior commissioned officer (JCO) found guilty of selling NSP weapons were a mere "eye-wash".

The court asked the AG to inform the court within two weeks why the proceedings against these 73 Army officers be not reopened to decide afresh the quantum of punishment. "You (Army) dismiss cadets for drunken brawl and abusing seniors. But you let off senior officers with reprimand," the bench said.

"If this is happening in one command (south-western) of the Army, what about the position in other eight commands? Should such officers there go scot free? Why should there be not an inquiry? Why not enlarge the scope of the petition," the bench asked during the fresh hearing on a seven-year-old PIL filed by advocate Arvind K Sharma.

"We are only asking this, an Army officer illegally sells his NSP weapon when he is there to protect the citizens, is he fit to continue as an officer," it said, adding, "That is why weapons are sold like toys. That is why in Delhi everyone whips out a weapon."

Of the 29 officers of the rank of lieutenant colonel, colonel and major found involved in the sale of NSP weapons, 15 were 'punished' with 'severe reprimand and a fine of Rs 500', two were 'reprimanded' and rest were awarded punishment ranging from one to three years loss of seniority either for the purpose of promotion or pension.

The 25 officers posted in Indian Army Training Team in Bhutan, who were found to have imported ammunition in excess of the authorized 50 rounds, were all let off with 'severe displeasure (non-recordable)'.

However, the bench was against ordering a CBI inquiry into the affairs of Army and wanted the Army to set right its wrongs.

"A lieutenant colonel sells 17 weapons, his and 16 others, and gets three years forfeiture of seniority, another sells 11 NSP weapons and gets two years forfeiture, the third sells five and gets one year forfeiture. It is not how many weapons they sold. What shocks our conscience is that they are part of the disciplined force where a small indiscipline results in termination of service," the bench said.

via Times of India

Illegal Weapons Sale , Indian Army , No comments