Look to compensate military men who win legal battles after

A Supreme Court judge has called for exploring all options for compensating military personnel found guilty during court-martial instead of reinstating them after they win legal battles.
Speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations of Institute of Military Law (IML) at Kamptee here yesterday, Supreme Court judge Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri said it was a must to maintain the tradition of strict discipline in armed forces.
Elaborating on his suggestion, Justice Sikri said that such options were available in civil disputes under Industrial Dispute Act wherein private companies do it by paying increased compensation or one-time settlement or payment.
"In the era of globalisation, if a company doesn't want a particular employee, they resort to such tactics. Even in armed forces, such options should be explored. When Army personnel, who are pronounced guilty during court-martial, return to their positions after winning legal battles either in Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) or Supreme Court, they virtually motivate others to indulge in indiscipline and bring bad name to the organisation," he said.

Institute of Military Law celebrated its Raising Day at its premises in Kamptee near here yesterday.
Justice Sikri planted a palm to mark the occasion. He later addressed officers undergoing 25 JAAC course.

He also stressed that it is the responsibility of Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch officers to carefully study each case and ensure that principle of natural justice is followed.
He also emphasised that in armed forces, justice and discipline are to be ensured and JAG branch officers have a very important role to play in achieving this.
Brigadier Vijay Kumar Commandant IML and Colonel A K Vashisth, Deputy Commandant were present on the occasion, a release from the Defence PRO said.