Army court-martials woman officer

Army court-martials woman officer - first time ever

For the first time in the history of Indian Army, a lady officer has been court-martialled. Captain Poonam Kaur has been charged on 11 counts including disobedience and making false allegations against superior officers.

CJ: Rajiv Azad

Sun, Jul 12, 2009 12:20:14 IST

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Indian Army :

AT A time when Indian ladies head prominent positions in the Government of India, including that of President Union and Railway Minister, a lady officer in the Indian Army has embarrassed the feminine community.

For the first time ever in the history of the Indian Army, a lady officer has been court-martialled. The General Court Martial proceedings for the disgraced lady officer, Captain Poonam Kaur, took place in Patiala, Punjab at the Fifth Armoured Regiment Headquarters. The Army Court found her guilty on seven charges of the eleven levelled against her and ordered her dismissal.

Some of the charges included: levelling bogus allegations against senior army officers, disobedience, violation of orders and indiscipline. Presently stationed in Kalka at the Army Service Corps battalion, Captain Poonam Kaur had alleged in July 2008, that she had been physically and mentally harassed by a senior officer. In her application, she named Col RK Sharma, Lt Col Ajay Chawla and adjutant Major Suraj Bhan for various sorts for physical and mental harassment. She further stated in her application that she was confined without any reason when she opposed their immoral motives.

Kaur’s counsel, Col (retired) SK Aggarwal said, “The Court Martial has ordered her dismissal from service. Captain Poonam Kaur had been charged on 11 counts including disobedience, making false allegations against superior officers and addressing the media pertaining to service matters.”

Col Aggarwal further added, “The Court Martial proceedings which were initiated last year against Capt Kaur, in its order at Patiala yesterday, have ordered her dismissal from service, which will be subject to confirmation by the West Command Chief, a process which may take two months.”

Reacting frantically to the verdict of the General Court Martial, Captain Poonam Kaur’s father who is employed with Military Engineering Services (MES) said, he will first look into the verdict of the GCM and then decide the future course of action for his daughter.

It appears the Indian Army has sought to send the message that there is no place for indiscipline in the Indian Army. Maybe the government coud learn a thing or two from the Army. They should set their house in order and fire corrupt officers found swindling public money.

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Posted comments (6)

	Very 2 good Sir
	Santosh Yadav Agra \| 14 July 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

	woman officers are part of army and subject to same discipline as men and that is what they choose when they join army. If she was harrassed she should have reported the matter rather than creating a media circus out of it.Her failure to substantiate her allegations immediately after making them before an inqury ordered for finding out griveances clearly indicated a case of indiscipline using harrassment as a defence .
	ane \| 14 July 2009 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse