Kargil veteran was fired after 'fake court martial'

RTI query reveals no such inquiry was held against the commander

An RTI reply has revealed how an Army commander who served during the Kargil war was dismissed on the basis of a “fake court martial” causing huge embarrassment to the Indian Army just days ahead of the 15th anniversary of the war with Pakistan.

Brig Surinder Singh, former commander of the 121 Army Brigade during the Kargil war in 1999,  was dismissed based on a military Court of Inquiry (CoI) that “never took place”. He was accused of retaining and leaking classified information to the enemy during the war.

Brig Singh’s claimed is based on an RTI reply which he had sought to vindicate his stand before the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) in Chandigarh where he has been fighting a long drawn legal battle against his dismissal.

Brig Singh was the lone officer dismissed without a court martial on the basis of the court of inquiry after the Kargil war. The brigadier’s dismissal orders issued on May 29, 2001 by the Ministry of Defence cite the findings of a court of inquiry that allegedly took place in September 1999 by the 3rd Infantry Division.

But the RTI reply received by Brig Singh states that no such CoI was ever held in the September of 1999.

The officer has now duly informed the AFT in Chandigarh that he was dismissed from the Army on the basis of a “fake” court of inquiry by the military. Not just the officer’s dismissal order, but a show cause notice issued to him on August 22, 2000, too makes a mention of the CoI against him.

Brig Singh was charged with various offences by the Army and eventually found guilty of holding back classified documents at his residence and failing to surrender them even after relieving charge of the brigade which he commanded.

He was also held guilty of getting photocopies of classified military documents and leaking information.

Through the RTI, Brig Singh had sought to know the name and designation of the officer who had convened the CoI against him. The RTI reply states that no such information is available since no CoI was conducted by the 3rd Infantry Division.

Brig Singh said he has brought the developments before the AFT for justice.