Sukhna Land Scam?

Almost all institutions in the country, including that of PMO, have been destroyed / subverted/ weakened by the politico-bureaucratic nexus. Military is the only institution still intact but the vested interest (bureaucracy) wants to systematically do the same to it also. In the so called Sukhna land case, the bureaucracy has misguided the Raksha Mantri into interfering in centuries old and well tested military judicial and justice system. This is a most dangerous trend.

Sukhna episode is not a SCAM, nor even a scandal, and a mountain has been made out of a mole hill. The land belongs neither to the army nor the Government, nor it has been occupied by Army but is a private tea estate. Since the land is still with the owner, where is the scam? The issuing of NOC for the construction of a school, within the prohibited area around the cantonment is the issue. Don’t ALL our cantonments have civilian pockets within them? Aren’t ALL our military stations surrounded by civilian areas? If there is no security threat to all such stations what is so peculiar with Sukhna? Law of ‘No Construction with in 1000 yards’ of the boundary of a military establishments is violated and flouted everywhere with impunity, without any exception. The DCs routinely issue ‘change of land use,’ orders, maybe for a consideration. The most glaring cases are construction near vast ammunition depot at Badowal (Ludhiana) and a most sensitive Air Force establishment at Kasauli. These affect National Security far more seriously than the Sukna case. The media must go into these violations and seek strict actions against the guilty.

For all issues arising out of giving of NOC, the Army Chief, after examining the Court of Inquiry, other evidence and the recommendations of the army commander, is well within his legal and administrative rights to decide on the further course of action. In the instant case, his decision to take only administrative action can be as debatable as any judicial order. Sometimes ‘administrative’ action can be quicker and harsher than a Court Martial, where a person has a right to defend himself.

Unprecedented Intervention by the RM is irregular and is beset with grave implications, besides impinging on the rights and sanctity of military’s judicial system. He appears to be goaded in this matter by the MOD bureaucracy, for obvious reasons related to our ongoing agitation for Parity in Pension and thus to show military in bad light. Both the RM and the Army Chief can be put in a very embarrassing position when called as defence witnesses by a clever defence counsel in the Court Martial. What happens if the case is lost? Can the institutional damage inflicted on the Military be then undone?

Aspersions have been cast on the integrity of the COAS himself. Why should Civil–Military rivalry or infighting amongst top few Generals be allowed to erode the faith of the soldiers deployed on borders or at 21000 feet in Siachen, in their military’s justice system and its leadership, thus lowering their morale, which is a ‘Battle Winning’ factor?

The real ‘SCAMS’ are grabbing of defence land of military camping grounds and around the cantonments by the big fish are real land scams. Govt must NOT apply entirely different yardsticks for civil and military personnel. It is all right that armed forces ought to be clean, but scale to measure guilt must be same. It takes 19 years to convict a DGP for molesting a minor girl, whereas in the army those involved even an underweight egg are dealt with expeditiously. Military Soldiers accused in the Tehelka case were severely punished while nothing happened to any civilian. Bureaucrats involved in proven corruption cases are promoted or even go as Governors. Is it JUSTICE? Let ‘justice’ be equitable for all.

As per the media reports, black money of US$ 1.4 trillion (about Rs 75 LAKH CRORES) is stashed away in Swiss banks by our corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and the like. Yet not a whimper is heard about it. The dead horse of Sukhna is being flogged, by all, rather noisily.
Brig Harwant Singh (Retd)
President,
The All India Defence Brotherhood (Regd)
Related reading
The Generals and their labyrinth