Disclaimer

There are about 22 lakhs exservicemen in the country. They are the most valuable human resources that the country can make use of. The objective of this blog is to provide a medium for exchanging views & educating the veterans of the Armed Forces by disseminating important information. This Blog has been conceived by a team comprising of Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd., Veteran BS Sohi(Both IAF), Veteran S.C. Sharma(Navy) & Veteran Malkiat Singh(Army). The postings in this Blog are only the personal opinion and do not necessarily reflect the views of the “Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association” blog team. These are expressed in good faith for the general welfare of the veterans of the Indian Armed Forces. The contents of this blog are neither for business nor for any commercial gains. Neither the “Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association” blog team nor the individual authors of any material on this blog accept responsibility for any loss or damage however caused (including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of your use or reliance on information contained on or accessed through this blog. All views and opinions presented are solely those of the surfer veterans and do not necessarily represent those of “Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association” blog team. This is not an official blog site. This blog is run by a team of Veterans of the Indian Armed Forces. It is not affiliated to or officially recognized by the MOD or Air Hq., Naval Hq., Army Hq. or Govt/State.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Brig’s dismissal upheld, but will get pension benefits : Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Brig’s dismissal upheld, but will get pension benefits.

Vijay MohanTribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 23:Almost two decades after a brigadier was dismissed by a General Court Martial (GCM) on charges of corruption, the Armed Forces Tribunal today upheld the court martial proceedings, but restored his pensionary benefits.
The tribuanl’s Chandigarh Bench, comprising Justice Ghanshyam Prashad and Lt Gen AS Bahia also ordered that the petitioner, Brig GS Kahlon, would be entitled to arrears of pension from 1992, along would interest at the rate of six per cent.
Kahlon was tried on nine counts of misappropriation of canteen funds with intent to defraud and failure to exercise proper control and supervision while he was the chairman of Headquarters 123 Mountain Brigade unit canteen. He was responsible for functioning of the canteen as well as signing and counter-signing financial documents. The GCM had found him guilty on eight charges.
Kahlon had contended that had been framed and tried arbitrarily. He also contended that some charges did not amount to dishonesty or misappropriation and that he was not in station on some of the dates mentioned in the charges. He had also claimed that there was no loss or gain or any prejudice to any by his acts of signing some documents.
Counsel for the government Capt Sandeep Bansal, on the other hand, argued that the procedures relating to the disciplinary case against the petitioner that had resulted in his conviction were strictly in compliance with the rules and regulations and as per the laid down law.
He also contended that the petitioner, in his arguments before the Tribunal, had taken out isolated statements of some witnesses to prove his innocence. However, there was no corroboration of the same and even otherwise a conjoint reading of the evidence clearly proved the case against him.