The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : High Court issues notice to Army Chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 24, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

High Court issues notice to Army Chief

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court here on Wednesday ordered issue of notice to Chief of the Army Staff J.J. Singh on a contempt petition filed by a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO).

In his petition, B.M. Reddy, a former subedar from the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) and Centre, said he was working as a clerk in the Officers' Mess, MEG and Centre, Bangalore.

He was enrolled as a sepoy in the Indian Army on December 12, 1983 and rose to become a Junior Commissioned Officer. When he was serving as a clerk in Bangalore, he was charged with embezzlement.

Court martial

A court martial was held and he was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment.

He was also dismissed from service.

When he was serving his sentence in the Central Jail in Bangalore, he moved the High Court against the verdict in the court martial.

A single judge had on October 7, 2005 partly allowed his petition and directed the Army to consider within four weeks the suspension of sentence.

Contempt plea

Mr. Reddy filed a contempt plea when the Army did not consider the direction of the High Court.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nauvdip Kumar Sodhi and Justice N. Kumar ordered issue of notice to the Army Chief asking him why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.

The court dispensed with the personal appearance of the Army Chief and posted further hearing on the matter to January 3, 2006.

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