GCM to try woman officer for corruption reassembles after two years :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

GCM to try woman officer reassembles after 2 yrs :Vijay Mohan-Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 14-After remaining adjourned for about two
years on legal grounds, the first ever general court martial (GCM)
convened by the Army to try a woman officer on charges of corruption reassembled here today.
The GCM is trying Major Dimple Singla of the Judge Advocate General’s
(JAG) Branch on three charges under Sections 52 and 63 of the Army
Act for wrongful gain and acts prejudicial to good order and military
discipline.
She had allegedly demanded and accepted bribes from jawans facing
court martial in order to influence the trial in their favour. She was
released from service on completion of her stipulated period of
engagement during the course of the trial.
The GCM, presided over by Col Sanjeev Jose, CO of an Air Defence
Regiment, had commenced in April 2007 but was adjourned sine die
a few months later after the accused had moved the Punjab and
Haryana High Court when the GCM had dismissed her plea without
allowing the defence to lead evidence in its support or giving a
reasoned order in support of its decision.
The defence had challenged the jurisdiction of the GCM to try the
case on the grounds that certain mandatory provisions of law
were not complied with during pre-trial proceedings.
The High Court had directed the GCM to give detailed and reasoned
order in the matter and the Army thereafter decided to move the
Supreme Court against HC’s directions. The apex court reportedly
upheld the HC order. The defence thereafter moved the Armed
Forces Tribunal challenging the reasons given by the GCM in
support of its decision, but the AFT directed the GOC-in-C,
Western Command, to dispose of the matter.
The defence today raised objection to the present judge advocate
being part of the trial on grounds that he is posted with the same
unit with which the accused had served. The defence contended t
hat this was contrary to the provisions of Army Rules and Army
Orders dealing with the subject. Further, all documents pertaining
to the case were available with the said unit, which would prejudice
the case against her.
The court has been adjourned for the prosecution to file its reply to
the defence’s contention.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.
Mob.098554-00128