Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Presentation by Maj. Gen. Nilendra Kumar Director Amity Law School, Noida at IIPA, New Delhi on 6 September 2012
SERVICE DISPUTE
However, this has been taken for the purpose of this presentation, to refer to all disputes, whether related individually, jointly or by the Service itself against a service or the Union Government.
In a democratic republic, disputes are meant to be settled by a dialogue; and failing which, in accordance with following rule of law concept in a legal manner.
CONTOURS
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Nature of disputes Causes of disputes Number of disputes and size of problem Framework and resources for settlement Appraisal of the system Recommendations
CATEGORY OF DISPUTES
Individual or personal 2. Non military individuals V the State 3. Group (e.g. Major Dhanapalans case or Maj. Gen. pension matter) V the State 4. Corporate 5. State V Union of India e.g. AFSPA 6. PIL 7. Foreign Corporates
1.
The Union of India could be the target of the dispute i.e. as a respondent; or in some cases could be the initiator of the legal dispute.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Service conditions Disciplinary awards Procurement processes Land matters Human Rights violations
CAUSES
Old and antiquated laws 2. Nature of service where decisions often do not exhibit application of mind 3. Lack of flexibility amongst the decision matters 4. Frequent and arbitrary changes in policy 5. Lack of awareness of military ethos on the part of judges & lawyers 6. Corruption
1.
NATURE OF SERVICE
Demand for implicit obedience 2. Liability to serve anywhere on land, sea and air 3. Pyramidical structure showing limited scope for career progression 4. Primacy to arms & fliers 5. Early separation by way of retirement
1.
CPC
SECTION 80
Notice No suit shall be instituted against the Government or against a public officer in respect of any act purporting to be done by such public officer in his official capacity until the expiration of two months next after notice in writing has been delivered to or left at the office of a Secretary to that Government
Army Act, 1950, Army Rules, 1952 and DSR (RA), 1987 have also remained unchanged over the decades Despite five years having elapsed after enactment of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, it finds no mention in the Army Act and Army Rules.
Thus the laws are not in tune with times, and may be said to be outdated
Further, last two decade has seen involvement of senior officers, incidents of moral turpitude and sharp erosion in ethical standards.
There have been prosecutions for staging fake encounters and attempts to procure gallantry awards undeservedly.
Adarsh Sukna land Pune land matter involving the then Army Commander Bungalow grab in Lucknow cantonment by an Army Commander Tehelka Procurement of rations (meat, dals & eggs etc.) leading to conviction of a Lt. General
SCAMS GALORE
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Divisional Commander in sexual harassment case Procurement for peace keepers Tent scam Booz Brigadier Ketchup Colonel Sale of non service pattern of weapons Sex for food NDA job scam
Yet another matter that had continued to occupy centre space for months
Politicisation, MPs met the PM Repeated representations Keeping the decision to move Court secret Abortive attempt to progress a PIL AFT and High Court by passed Supreme Court moved straightaway Decision to withdraw and yet expression of dissatisfaction at Court decision
A clear example of unresolved dispute between MS Branch and AGs Branch on one hand; and between Army HQ and MoD on the other.
Further, rank and file appear to have been left confused (and amazed)!
3.
4.
5.
ADR MODES
1. 2. 3.
Agreements and contracts are invariably one sided Reflective of rigidity and arbitrariness attitude of decision makers
EXISTING PRACTICE
Responsibility 1. Legal Cells - Set up at the seat of major High Courts or at the location of AFT benches 2. Station HQ 3. NCC Unit
RESOURCES
IX Officer IX Clerk
REMARKS
Legal Cell function mostly under the Static HQ 2. Where higher field formations co-exist Legal Cells operate under static HQ e.g. at Allahabad or Secunderabad.
1.
There is no authentic data about total number of pending cases relating to MOD
MS QMGs E in C Medical ST
Training, Courses, AFSPA Disciplinary cases, pay & allowances Officer cadre Accommodation, ration, travel and canteens Rent & allied charges Disability, medical boards Supply contracts
Consequently no data or study available about : Trend of increase or decrease Trend about outcome of cases What type of cases are increasing Which Government counsel wins/loses Reasons leading to adverse decisions
No branch would have the data about total pendency of court cases
Applicable Constitutional and legal regime are designed to best protect military disputes settlement mechanism.
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
Article 33 Power of Parliament to modify the rights conferred by this Part in their application etc. Parliament may, by law, determine to what extent any of the rights conferred by this Part shall, in their application to:(a)the
(c) xxxx (d) xxxx be restricted or abrogated so as to ensure the proper discharge of their duties and the maintenance of discipline among them.
Notwithstanding anything in this Chapter, the Supreme Court may, in its discretion, grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India.
2. Nothing in clause (1) shall apply to any judgment, determination, sentence or order passed or made by any court or tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces.
Article 227 (4) Power of Superintendence over all courts by the High Court (1) Every High Court shall have superintendence over all courts and tribunals throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises jurisdiction. (2) xx (3) xx
(4) Nothing in this article shall be deemed to confer on a High Court powers of superintendence over any court or tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces.
Article 311
Dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities under the Union or a State (1) No person who is a member of a civil service of the Union or an all India service or a civil service of a State or holds a civil post under the Union or a State shall be dismissed or removed by an authority subordinate to that by which he was appointed
Setting up of Armed Forces Tribunal The Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007
However, the move itself had certain deficiencies right at the stage of inception.
Lack of infrastructure 2. Shortages in members and staff 3. Want of authority to enforce (contempt powers) 4. Poor quality of judgments
1.
Justice Pradeep Nandrajogs decision dated 26 April 2011 in Colonel A.D. Nargolkars case Writ Petition No. 13367/2009
GIST OF ORDER
1.
AFT cannot be said to be truly a judicial review forum as a substitute to High Courts. The power of judicial review under Articles 226 and 227 is unaffected by the constitution of AFT.
2.
3.
4. Decisions by the AFT would be amenable to judicial review by High Court under Articles 226 as also under 227 of the Constitution.
MEDIA PERCEPTION
Poor media image about credibility and effectiveness of in-house tribunals and forums of the military
Absence of a single agency with requisite reference resources, library, seniority and Accountability is a critical deficiency.
1. 2. 3.
Judge Advocate Generals Department Military Secretary Legal Disciplinary and Vigilance
No rules, regulations or instructions formulated so far to introduce a system to deal with cases filed in Armed Forces Tribunal or with RTI or other tribunals.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Defence of court cases should be a command function rather than a duty for the staff Thorough overhaul of laws Framing of a Uniform Code of Military Justice to achieve uniformity of Rules Integration of JAG Resources of three services for better management of litigation Augmentation of JAG Department to create better manpower to deal with court cases Creation of a separate pool of lawyers for military
As a matter of policy all laws, Acts, rules, regulations, instructions and orders should be brought for review at regular Intervals.
CONCLUSION
An inadequate and ineffective machinery for settlement of service disputes would shake and erode confidence in military leadership. It would also be wasteful in time and resources.
Any Questions