PTI
New Delhi, Nov 21: In the first-of-its-kind case, the Army on Friday decided to initiate court martial proceedings against a retired Lieutenant-General on corruption charges for allegedly procuring poor quality food items for troops fighting insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir four years ago.
Lt Gen (retd) S K Sahni will be senior-most army officer, serving or retired, to face such disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act.
The court martial proceedings, to be presided over by a senior Lieutenant General, will begin on November 26 at the 11 Corps headquarters in Jalandhar.
The retired officer had served as the Director General (Supplies and Transport) in Army headquarters and retired from that post in 2006. He held the responsibility of supplies to the troops serving across the country.
Under the Army Act, any retired officer could be called back for court martial proceedings for offences committed during his service tenure that had come to light before or after his superannuation.
A court of inquiry probing the charges indicted him along with six other officers including a major general and 2 brigadiers.
The Delhi High Court had earlier rejected Lt Gen Sahni's plea against the disciplinary proceedings, following which the Army invoked laws that provided for action against erring officers even three years after retirement, Army sources said.
After the court orders, the Army headquarters attached him to the 11 Corps headquarters in Jalandhar for pending disciplinary proceedings following an indictment for his acts of omission and commission.
Apart from (retd) Lt Gen Sahni, another army officer (retd) Lt Gen S K Dahiya of Army Service Corps (ASC), had come close to facing court martial proceedings after a court of inquiry indicted him for supplying sub-quality meat to troops.
But he was let off after an administrative action and severe reprimand. He was also denied the post of Director General (Supplies and Transport) despite being the senior most ASC officer.
The Quarter Master General of the Army was given additional charge of Supplies and Transport with a major general appointed as the acting DG(ST).