Army Chief orders court martial of Lt Gen Avadhesh Prakash
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, January 29, 2010
Lt. Gen Avadhesh Prakash
Perhaps, the Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor was left with no other choice after defence minister AK Antony overturned his recommendation of only departmental action against the military secretary Let Gen Avadhesh Prakash. The Army Chief ordered the initiation of court martial proceedings on Friday.
Two days ago defence minister AK Antony has overturned the Army Chief's recommendation and directed him to start the court marshal proceedings against Let Gen Prakash.
This is the first instance where court marshal proceedings have been initiated against a three star army officer. And it is also a first that a defence minister has overturned the recommendation of an army chief.
"The Army Chief has ordered disciplinary action against Lt Gen Prakash, who will face a court martial in Sukna land scam. The Chief has stuck to the advice from the Defence Minister in the case," the ministry sources told the media.
As Military Secretary, Prakash is one of the top aides of the Army Chief handling postings, appointments and transfers and he is due to superannuate from the service on January 31 this year.
However, army sources told the media that even after his retirement the officer will be still be under the purview of the army act and the proceedings against him will not be affected.
Let Gen Prakash, former 33 Corps Commander Lt Gen PK Rath and his Chief of Staff Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali and Maj Gen PC Sen were found guilty of giving undue favour to a builder for building a school by granting him a No Objection Certificate.
Army Chief Designate and presently Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen VK Singh had recommended 'termination of service' of Let Gen Prakash and administrative action against the other officers following the indictment of these officers by a court of inquiry.
