The Hindu : National : Anjali's stay petition adjourned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 27, 2005

National

National

Anjali's stay petition adjourned

Staff Reporter

Tests done for psychological evaluation

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday adjourned a petition by Flying Officer Anjali Gupta seeking a stay on the court martial proceedings initiated by the Indian Air Force against her. Ms. Gupta has also challenged the issue of a charge sheet.

Prosecutor Wg. Cdr. Dubey told the general court martial jury that he had no account of the tests for psychological evaluation being done on Ms. Gupta and was yet to know the precise time needed to complete them. He sought time till May 30.

(On Tuesday, a panel of doctors, including a psychiatrist from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences here, which is overseeing the tests, took Ms. Gupta to the Institute of Aerospace Medicine and then to the IAF Command Hospital. The tests are being done to study whether she has any suicidal tendencies and, if so, to eliminate them.)

Defending officer Gp. Capt. R. Vijay Kumar wondered why the prosecutor did not have an official version of the tests conducted.

Granting the prosecutor's plea, Presiding Officer Gp. Capt. V. Ganesh asked him to produce Ms. Gupta on May 30.

"If she is not produced, you should give us an update of her health, the tests being conducted and the time needed to complete the tests."

Wg. Cdr. R.K. Dubey said the evaluation was necessary for the administration to decide on Ms. Gupta's plea to release her from "close arrest" (house arrest).

It was Ms. Gupta's statement before the Karnataka State Commission for Women on April 8 that "she is on the verge of taking her life" because of perceived harassment that led to the IAF administration to place her under "close arrest."

Two escorts stayed with Ms. Gupta in the Air Force Officers Mess and her movements outside were restricted.

Release plea rejected

Ms. Gupta's plea for release to enable her to meet advocates was turned down by the jury, which said it was beyond its jurisdiction.

"You are under the custody of the court martial jury only during its proceedings. Once the proceedings adjourn, you are under the administration."

The issue of Ms. Gupta's release was raised at a recent meeting of the All-India Democratic Women's Association with Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi in New Delhi. Last Friday he met Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh here.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National