Supreme Court demands tougher action against army officers involved in gun-running

NEW DELHI: The SC demanded tougher action against army officials allegedly involved in gun-running along the Rajasthan border who had been let off with reprimands and censures by the authorities. The remarks came during a hearing on a PIL filed in 2007 by lawyer Arvind Sharma alleging illegal sales of army weapons by personnel posted along the western border.

A bench comprising justices HL Dattu, SA Bobde and AM Sapre, said that its conscience was shocked by the lenient punishments handed out to the guilty officers in the case. Dattu is set to be the next chief justice of India when RM Lodha retires. The bench asked attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the defence ministry, to explain why exemplary action should not be taken against them.

A court of inquiry, held under court prodding, had found 75 officers “blameworthy” in the scandal. Ten of them have since retired. Some of them were reprimanded and censured Others had to pay fines of Rs500. Some were demoted in rank. The bench said that it was aghast that the army, which in some cases even dismisses its lower-rung personnel over drunken brawls, chose to inflict mild punishments such as “displeasure” and “censure” on top-ranking personnel involved in the racket.

“The punishment… shocks our conscience. Even if they have retired why can’t you hold a GCM (general court martial) again and give them punishment commensurate to the offence,” the bench asked Rohatgi. “How do you condone this? Look at the punishment, it’s a pittance. Taking into consideration the gravity of offence I can say that you people did nothing but just an eyewash.”