Nk Santosh Lohar v. Union of India and Ors

CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -1-o o 121?128?129o o o ooINoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o o 1)oo o o o o o CWP-3118-2023oo o o o o o DateoofoDecision:03.10.2023o o NKoSANTOSHoLOHARoooo ooooo o ooooooooooooooooooo.......oPetitionero o Versuso o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoORS.o o o oooooooo.....oRespondentso o 2)o o o o o o CWP-25737-2019oo o BHIMoSINIGHoo o o o o o o ....Petitionero o o o o o o Versuso oo UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoOTHERSoo o o ....Respondentso o 3)o o o o o o CWP-7130-2023oooo o o DHARMENDRAoKUMARoSINGHoo o o .....Petitionero o o o o o o Versusoo o UNIONoOFoINDIAoANDoANR.oo o o o ....Respondentso oo CORAM:oooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEooJAGMOHANoBANSALo o Presento:o Mr.oAbhimanuoJangra,oAdvocateoforoo o o Mr.oAjitoKakkar,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-3118-2023.o o o o Mr.oBalwinderoSingh,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.oKunaloR.oChoksi,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-25737-2019.o o o o Mr.oBinatoSharma,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioneroinoCWP-7130-2023.o o o o Mr.oKaranoKumaroJund,oCentraloGovt.oCounselo o o fororespondents-oUOIoinoCWP-3118-2023.o o o o Mr.oRohitoVerma,oAdvocateo o o forotheorespondent-UOIoinoCWP-25737-2019.o o o o Ms.oAnitaoBalyan,oSenioroPaneloCounselo CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -2-o o o o forotheorespondents-oUOIoinoCWP-7130-2023.oo o o o o o ****o o JAGMOHANoBANSAL,oJ.o(Oral)o o

1.o o ByothisocommonoorderoCWP-3118-2023,oCWP-25737-2019o ando CWP-7130-2023o areo disposedo ofo sinceo issueo involvedo ino allo theo petitionsoandoprayerosoughtoareocommon.oWithotheoconsentoofopartiesoando forotheosakeoofobrevity,ofactsoareoborrowedofromoCWP-3118-2023.o

2.o o TheopetitionerothroughoinstantopetitionounderoArticleo226oofo theo Constitutiono ofo Indiao iso seekingo settingo asideo ofo orderso datedo

20.09.2018,o 15.04.2020o ando 31.10.2022o (Anneuxreo P-1)o wherebyo petitionerohasobeenoawardedopunishmentoofo'SevereoReprimand'.o

3.o o Despiteo constitutiono ofo Armedo Forceso Tribunalo (foro shorto 'Tribunal')oforoarmedoforces,otheopetitionerohasoinvokedowritojurisdictionoofo thiso Courto ono theo groundo thato aso pero Sectiono 3o (o)o ofo Armedo Forceso TribunaloAct,o2007o(foroshorto'2007oAct')oinocaseoanoorderoofopunishmento iso passedo ino summaryo trialo ando punishmento iso othero thano dismissal,o Tribunalohasonoojurisdiction,othus,oremedyoleftoisopetitionounderoArticleo 226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.ooo o o Theo petitionero iso workingo witho Indiano Armyo ando byo impugnedoorderoheohasobeenoawardedopunishmentoofo'SevereoReprimand'.o TheoorderoofopunishmentohasobeenopassedobyotheoBrigadieroinoexerciseoofo poweroconferredobyoSectiono80-82oofotheoArmyoAct,o1950.oItoisoaptotoo noticeo hereo thato petitionero waso subjectedo too minoro punishmento byo followingoprocedureoofosummaryotrial.oo

4.o o LearnedocounseloforotheopetitionerosubmitsothatoSectiono3o(o)o ofo 2007o Acto defineso expressiono 'serviceo matters'.o Ino theo definition,o CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -3-o o punishmentoofodismissaloawardedoinosummaryotrialoisocoveredowithinotheo definitiono ofo 'serviceo matters',o however,o ifo theo punishmento iso awardedo otherothanodismissaloinosummaryodisposaloandotrials,oitodoesonotofallowithino theo definitiono ofo 'serviceo matters'.o Similarly,o ifo trialo iso conductedo byo summaryoCourtoMartialoandopunishmentoawardedoisootherothanodismissalo fromoserviceooroimprisonmentoisolessothano3omonths,otheomatterodoesonoto fallo withino theo definitiono ofo 'serviceo matters'.o Sectiono 14o ofo 2007o Acto confersojurisdictionoandopowerouponotheoTribunalowithorespectotoo'serviceo matters'.oSectiono15oofo2007oActoconfersojurisdictionoandopowerouponotheo Tribunal,oinorespectoofomattersoofoappealoagainstoCourtoMartial.oInotheocaseo ofopetitioner,otheoorderohasobeenopassedobyoBrigadieroexercisingopowero underoSectiono80-82oofotheoArmyoActoandoBrigadierohasoconductedotrialoaso summaryotrial,othus,ocaseoofotheopetitionerodoesonotofallowithinodefinitiono ofo'serviceomatters'oasocontemplatedobyoSectiono3o(o)oreadowithoSectiono14o ofo theo 2007o Act.o Thus,o writo petitiono iso theo onlyo remedyo witho theo petitioner.oo o o Ino supporto ofo hiso contention,o learnedo counselo foro theo petitioneroreliesouponoparao13oofotheojudgmentoofoDelhioHighoCourtoinoEx.o LinkoVishavoPriyaoSinghoVs.oUOIo2018o(3)oSCTo216.oParao13oofotheo judgmentoreadsoas:o "13.oHavingoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheoparties,o theofirstoandotheoforemostoissueothatoneedsotoobeodecidedo isowhetherotheopresentopetitionoisonotomaintainableoinothiso CourtoinoviewoofoSectiono3(o)oofotheoAFToAct,oasoitoisotheo submissionoofoMs.oBabbarothatotheoissueohereinorelatesotoo aoserviceomatterothatotoooconcerningopersonsosubjectotoo Armyo Acto whereo theo punishmento iso ofo dismissalo oro CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -4-o o imprisonment for more than three months. In that regard, the answer to the said issue lies in her own submission, inasmuch as she had stated that the matters, which shall not have the jurisdiction of AFT, are those relating to Summary Court Martial except where punishment is of dismissal or imprisonment for more than three months. In the case in hand, even though initially it was a case of dismissal with imprisonment of six months, the dismissal was reduced to discharge. Even otherwise, initially the writ petition was disposed of by this court on an issue whether the SCM need to be held by the CO of the unit or any other unit on January 25, 2008. The said order was subject matter of an Appeal before the Supreme Court, which decided the issue vide order dated July 05, 2016 in favour of the respondents but at the same time remanded the matter back to this Court for consideration on merits. The Supreme court having remanded the matter back to this court, this Court shall have the competence to decide the matter on merits. Hence, this plea of Ms. Babbar is rejected." o o ?eofurtherore*iesouponodifferentoordersopassedob4odifferento )encheso ofo 6ribuna*o +hereino ito haso beeno he*do thato 6ribuna*o haso noo jurisdictiono+hereotria*oisoconductedoasosummar4otria*oorosummar4o"ourto Martia*oandopunishmentoa+ardedoisootherothanopunishmentocontemp*atedo b4o ,ectiono 3o 9o)o ofo '((.o Act.o 6heo re*evanto e:tractso ofo theo ordero ofo 0u+ahatio)enchoofotheo6ribuna*oinoEx !av"CI#o$ayan%ao&'r(ahoVs.o Uni'no')oIn*iaoan*o'%h+rsoO.,.o-'.0.o')o2016o(*+/i*+*o'no11.02.2016)o readoas:o @3.oo )rig.oA.<e!a,o*earnedo"ounse*oappearingoforotheo respondentsohasoraisedoaopre*iminar4oobjectionore*atingo tootheomaintainabi*it4oofotheo2.A.,ocontendingointeroa*iao thatosinceotheoapp*icantohasopra4edoforoaore*iefobasedoono CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -5-o o theo proceedingo datedo 5.8.2014o conductedo byo theo COo awardingopunishmentoinoaosummaryodisposaloandotrial,o thisoTribunalohasonoojurisdictionotooentertainotheoOAoino viewo ofo theo definitiono ofo 'serviceo matters'o ino Sectiono 3(o)oofotheoArmedoForcesoTribunaloAct,o2007.oLearnedo Counsel,o therefore,o submitso thato theo OAo mayo beo dismissedoasothisoTribunalohasonoojurisdictionotooentertaino theosame.oo

4.oo Dr.o Lal,o learnedo Counselo submitso thato sinceo theo definitiono ofo 'serviceo matter'o ino Sectiono 3(o)o alsoo includeso `anyo othero matter,o whatsoever`,o aso statedo ino Clauseo(iv)oandothisoTribunal`sojurisdictionohasonotobeeno oustedobyoeithero(i),o(ii),o(iii)ooro(iv)oofoSectiono3(o)(iv),o thisoTribunalohasotheojurisdictionotooentertainotheoO.A.oo

5.oo Asonoticedoabove,otheoapplicantoinothisoO.A.ohaso thchallengedo theo ordero datedo 22 o September,o 2014o refusingotoograntofurtheroextensionoinoserviceoasowelloaso hiso dischargeo fromo serviceo ono completiono ofo normalo serviceolimit,odueotooawardooforedoinkoentryopunishmento ono5thoAugust,o2014ounderoSectiono41o(1)oofotheoArmyo Act,o1950.oTheoCOoawardedotheopunishmentoono5.8.2014o inoaosummaryotrial,obasedoonowhichotheoimpugnedoordero haso beeno passed.o Unlesso theo ordero datedo 5.8.2014o iso interferedo witho byo theo appropriateo Courto ofo law,o theo applicantocannotogetoanyorelief.oo

6.oo Sectiono 14o ofo theo Armedo Forceso Tribunalo Act,o 2007oconfersojurisdictionoonothisoTribunaloinorelationotoo alloserviceomatters.oo

7.oo Theo termo 'serviceo matter'o iso definedo ino Sectiono 3(o)oofotheosaidoAct.oForobetteroappreciation,oSectiono3(o)o ofoTheoArmedoForcesoTribunaloAct,o2007,oisoquotedoinoitso entirety:oo xxxo o xxxo o xxxo o xxxo

8.o Clauseo (iii)o ofo Sectiono 3(o)o ofo theo Armedo Forceso Tribunalo Act,o 2007,o provideso thato theo 'serviceo matter'o CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -6-o o includeso theo summaryo disposalo ando trialo whereo theo punishmentoofodismissaloisoawarded.oInotheoinstantocaseo videoorderodatedo5.8.2014otheopunishmentoofodismissalo haso noto beeno awarded.o Theo contentiono ofo theo learnedo Counseloforotheoapplicantothatoinoviewoofotheoprovisiono containedo ino Sectiono 3(o)(iv),o whicho empowerso thiso Tribunalo too entertaino ano OAo ino respecto ofo 'anyo othero matter,owhatsoever',oexcludingotheomattersospecificallyo mentionedoinosub-clauseso(i),o(ii),o(iii)oando(iv)othereof,o thiso OAo iso maintainable,o cannoto beo acceptedo foro theo simpleo reasono thato theo termo 'o anyo othero matter,o whatsoever',oisotoobeoreadowithoreferenceotootheo'serviceo matter',oasodefinedoinoSectiono3(o).oTheoTribunalocannoto giveo ano interpretationo thato 'anyo othero matter,o whatsoever',o includeso allo theo matterso concerningo theo serviceo despiteo thereo beingo ao specifico provisiono thato 'serviceomatter',oapartofromoothers,oincludesoonlyothoseo summaryo disposalo ando trialo whereo theo punishmento ofo dismissalo iso awarded.o Ifo ao contraryo interpretationo iso given,oitowouldoamountotooextendingotheojurisdictionoofo theoTribunalobeyondotheo'serviceomatter'oasodefinedoino Sectiono 3(o)o ofo theo aforesaido Acto ando henceo sucho interpretationocannotobeogiven.o o o

5.o o Learnedocounseloforotheorespondentosubmitsothatomatterohaso beeno consideredo byo Allahabado Higho Courto ino Majoro Kunwaro AmbreshwaroSinghoVs.oUnionoofoIndiao2015o(3)oSLRo595,oUttrakhando HighoCourtoinoExoHavildaroBirendraoSinghoNegioVs.oUnionoofoIndiao&o othersoo2012o(18)oS.C.To846oandoLalitoKumaroVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoando anothero (Writo Petitiono No.o 756o (PIL)o ofo 2008.o D/d.o 14.12.2010).o AllahabadoHighoCourtoasowelloasoUttrakhandoHighoCourtohasoclearlyoheldo thatoTribunalohasojurisdictionotooentertainopetitionoagainstopunishmentoofo lessothanodismissaloawardedoinosummaryotrial.oo CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -7-o o

6.o o Iohaveoheardotheoargumentsoofobothosidesoandowithotheoableo assistanceoofolearnedocounselsoperusedotheorecord.o

7.o o Fromotheoperusalooforecordoandoargumentsoofobothosides,oito comesooutothatoasoperopetitionersoifohigheropunishmentoi.e.odismissaloiso awardedo ino summaryo trial,o Tribunalo iso havingo jurisdictiono whereaso Tribunalohasonoojurisdictionoifolesseropunishmentoisoawarded.oThus,oinoallo thoseocasesowhereopunishmentoawardedoisominor,otheoremedyoavailableoiso writojurisdiction.oo o o Asoperorespondents,otheojurisdictionoofoTribunaloisoveryovasto ando Tribunalo cano entertaino petitionso eveno ino thoseo caseso whereo minoro punishmentohasobeenoawardedoinosummaryodisposaloandotrials.oo

8.o o oTheoParliamentoenactedoArmedoForcesoTribunaloActokeepingo ino viewo ao largeo numbero ofo caseso relatingo too serviceo matterso ofo theo MembersoofoArmedoForces,opendingoinotheoCourtsoforolongotime.oHon'bleo Supremeo Courto alsoo expressedo itso opiniono foro constitutiono ofo Armedo Forceso Tribunalo whicho waso consideredo byo theo Parliamento ando consequently,otheoActohasobeenoenacted.oStatementoofoobjectsoandoreasonso ofotheoActoisoreproducedoasounder:o "Theoexistingosystemoofoadministrationoofojusticeoinotheo ArmyoandoAiroForceoprovidesoforosubmissionoofostatutoryo complaintsoagainstogrievancesorelatingotooserviceomatterso ando preo ando posto confirmationo petitionso too variouso authoritiesoagainstotheofindingsoandosentencesoofoCourt-martial.o Ino Navy,o ano aggrievedo persono haso ao righto too submitoaocomplaintorelatingotooserviceomattersoandohasoao rightoofoaudienceobeforeotheoJudgeoAdvocateoGeneraloino theo Navyo ino regardo too theo findingo ando sentenceo ofo ao CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -8-o o Court-martialobeforeotheosameoareofinallyoputoupotootheo ChiefoofotheoNavaloStaff.o

2.oHavingoregardotootheofactothatoaolargeonumberoofocaseso relatingo too serviceo matterso ofo theo memberso ofo theo abovementionedothreeoarmedoforcesoofoUnionohaveobeeno pendingoinotheoCourtsoforoaolongotime,otheoquestionoofo constitutingoanoindependentoadjudicatoryoforumoforotheo DefenceoPersonnelohasobeenoengagingotheoattentionoofo theoCentraloGovernmentoforoquiteosomeotime.oIno1982,o theoSupremeoCourtoinoLt.-Col.oPrithioPaloSinghoBedioando OthersoVs.oUnionoofoIndiao(UOI)oandoOthers,oheldothato theoabsenceoofoevenooneoappealowithopowerotooreviewo evidence,olegaloformulation,oconclusionoandoadequacyooro otherwiseo ofo punishmento ino theo lawso relatingo too theo armedoforcesowasoaodistressingoandoglaringolacunaoando urgedo theo Governmento too takeo stepso too provideo foro ato leasto oneo judicialo reviewo ino serviceo matters.o Theo Estimateso Committeeo ofo theo Parliamento ino theiro 19tho ReportopresentedotootheoLokoSabhaoono20thoAugust,o1992o hado desiredo thato theo Governmento shouldo constituteo ano independento statutoryo Boardo oro Tribunalo foro serviceo personnel.o

3.oInoviewoofotheoabove,oitoisoproposedotooenactoaonewo legislationobyoconstitutingoanoArmedoForcesoTribunaloforo adjudicationo ofo complaintso ando disputeso regardingo serviceomattersoandoappealsoarisingooutoofotheoverdictsoofo theoCourts-martialoofotheomembersoofotheothreeoserviceo (Army,oNavyoandoAiroForce)otooprovideoforoquickeroando lessoexpensiveojusticeotootheomembersoofotheosaidoArmedo ForcesoofotheoUnion.o

4.o Establishmento ofo ano independento Armedo Forceso Tribunalowillofortifyotheotrustoandoconfidenceoamongsto memberso ofo theo threeo serviceso ino theo systemo ofo CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -9-o o dispensationo ofo justiceo ino relationo too theiro serviceo matters.o

5.o Theo Billo seekso too provideo foro ao judicialo appealo ono pointsoofolawoandofactsoagainstotheoverdictsoofoCourts-martialowhichoisoaocryingoneedoofotheodayoandolackoofoito haso ofteno beeno adverselyo commentedo upono byo theo SupremeoCourt.oTheoTribunalowillooustotheojurisdictiono ofo allo Courtso excepto theo Supremeo Courto wherebyo resourcesoofotheoArmedoForcesoinotermsoofomanpower,o materialoandotimeowillobeoconservedobesidesoresultingoino expeditiousodisposaloofotheocasesoandoreductionoinotheo numbero ofo caseso pendingo beforeo variouso Courts.o Ultimately,oitowilloresultoinospeedyoandolessoexpensiveo dispensationo ofo justiceo too theo Memberso ofo theo abovementionedothreeoArmedoForcesoofotheoUnion.o

6.o Theo Noteso ono clauseso explaino ino detailo theo variouso provisionsocontainedoinotheoBill.o

7.oTheoBilloseeksotooachieveotheoaboveoobjectives."o

9.o o Fromo theo readingo ofo aboveo quotedo objectso ando reasons,o ito comesooutothatotheointentionoofotheolegislatureoisotooprovideoanoalternativeo forumo whicho mayo decideo allo serviceo matterso ofo Armyo personnelo efficaciouslyosoothatotheiroserviceocareeromayonotobeoaffectedoadversely.oo

10.o o Theo Tribunalo iso exercisingo powero witho respecto too serviceo disputesoofomembersoofothreeoarmedoforces,othus,ooutcomeoofothisopetitiono isogoingotooaffectomembersoofoallotheoarmedoforces,onevertheless,owithotheo consentoofobothosidesoprovisionsoofoArmyoActoareoconsideredoherein.oo

11.o o Itoisoinevitableotoolookoatorelevantoprovisionsoofotheo2007oActo asowelloasoArmyoActoforotheoappreciationoofotheocontroversyoandodisposalo ofopresentopetitions,othus,orelevantosectionsoareoreproducedoasobelow:o CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -10-o o o o AFT Act, 2007 "(o) "service matters", in relation to the persons subject to the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957) and the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950), mean all matters relating to the conditions of their service and shall include—

(i) remuneration (including allowances), pension and other retirement benefits;

(ii) tenure, including commission, appointment, enrolment, probation, confirmation, seniority, training, promotion, reversion, premature retirement, superannuation, termination of service and penal deductions;

(iii) summary disposal and trials where the punishment of dismissal is awarded;

(iv) any other matter, whatsoever, but shall not include service matters relating to—

(i) orders issued under section 18 of the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), sub-section (1) of section 15 of the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957) and section 18 of the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950); and

(ii) transfers and postings including the change of place or unit on posting whether individually or as a part of unit, formation or ship in relation to the persons subject to the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957) and the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950);

(iii) leave of any kind;

(iv) summary court martial except where the punishment is of dismissal or imprisonment for more than three months; p) "summary disposals and trials" means summary disposals and trials held under the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957) and the Air CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -11-o o Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950);

¶14Jurisdiction, powers and authority in service matters.-(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the Tribunal shall exercise, on and from the appointed day, all the jurisdiction, powers and authority, exercisable immediately before that day by all courts (except the Supreme Court or a High Court exercising jurisdiction under articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution) in relation to all service matters.

(2) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, a person aggrieved by an order pertaining to any service matter may make an application to the Tribunal in such form and accompanied by such documents or other evidence and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

(3) to (7) xxxx xxxx xxxx

¶15Jurisdiction, powers and authority in matters of appeal against court martial.-(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the Tribunal shall exercise, on and from the appointed day, all the jurisdiction, powers and authority exercisable under this Act in relation to appeal against any order, decision, finding or sentence passed by a court martial or any matter connected therewith or incidental thereto.

(2) Any person aggrieved by an order, decision, finding or sentence passed by a court martial may prefer an appeal in such form, manner and within such time as may be prescribed.

(3) to (5) xxxx xxxx xxxx Army Act, 1950

¶79Punishments otherwise than by court-martial. Punishments may also be inflicted in respect of offences committed by persons subject to this Act without the intervention of a court-martial and in the manner stated in sections 80, 83, 84 and 85.

¶80Punishment of persons other than officers, CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -12-o o junior commissioned officers and warrant officers. Subject to the provisions of section 81, a commanding officer or such other officer as is, with the consent of the Central Government, specified by the Chief of the Army Staff, may, in the prescribed manner, proceed against a person subject to this Act otherwise than as an officer, junior commissioned officer or warrant officer who is charged with an offence under this Act and award such person, to the extent prescribed, one or more of the following punishments, that is to say,-

(a) imprisonment in military custody up to twenty-eight days;

(b) detention up to twenty-eight days;

(c) confinement to the lines up to twenty-eight days;

(d) extra guards or duties;

(e) deprivation of a, position of the nature of an appointment or of corps or working pay, and in the case of noncommissioned officers, also deprivation of acting rank or reduction to a lower grade of pay;

(f) forfeiture of good service and good conduct pay

(g) severe reprimand or reprimand

(h) fine up to fourteen days' pay in any one month;

(i) penal deductions under clause (g) of section 91;

¶108Kinds of courts-martial-For the purposes of this Act there shall be four kinds of courts-martial, that is to say,-

(a) general courts-martial;

(b) district courts-martial;

(c) summary general courts-martial; and

(d) summary courts-martial. CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -13-o o

¶116Summary court-martial.

(1) A summary court-martial may be held by the commanding officer of any corps, department or detachment of the regular Army, and he shall alone constitute the court.

(2) The proceedings shall be attended throughout by two other persons who shall be officers or junior commissioned officers or one of either, and who shall not as such, be sworn or affirmed.

¶120Powers of summary courts-martial. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), a summary court-martial may try any offence punishable under this Act.

(2) When there is no grave reason for immediate action and reference can without detriment to discipline be made to the officer empowered to convene a district court-martial or on active service a summary general court-martial for the trial of the alleged offender, an officer holding a summary court-martial shall not try without such reference any offence punishable under any of the sections 34, 37 and 69, or any offence against the officer holding the court.

(3) A summary court-martial may try any person subject to this Act and under the command of the officer holding the court, except an officer, junior commissioned officer or warrant officer.

(4) A summary court-martial may pass any sentence which may be passed under this Act, except a sentence of death or transportation, or of imprisonment for a term exceeding the limit specified in subsection (5).

(5) The limit referred to in sub-section (4) shall be one year if the officer holding the summary court-martial is of the rank of lieutenant-colonel and upwards, and three months if such officer is below that rank." %'.o o =romotheoperusa*oofoaboveoEuotedosections,oitocomesooutothato CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -14-o o Sectiono14oofotheo2007oAct,oconfersopowerouponoTribunalotooentertaino 'serviceomatters'.oTheoexpressiono'serviceomatters'ohasobeenodefinedoundero Sectiono3o(o)oofotheo2007oAct.oSectiono3o(o)oofotheo2007oActoisocouchedoino threeoparts.oTheofirstopartoofotheosectionotakesoinoitsosweepo"allomatterso relatingotooconditionsoofoservice".oTheosecondopartoisoinclusionopartoandoito providesothatomattersoenumeratedoinoClauseso(i)otoo(iv)oshallobeoincludedo inotheodefinitionoofo'serviceomatters'.oTheothirdopartoisoexclusionopart.oIto excludesodifferentomattersofromotheopurviewoofo'serviceomatters'.oo o o Sectiono 14o ofo theo 2007o Acto conferso originalo jurisdictiono whereaso Sectiono 15o conferso Appellateo jurisdictiono upono theo Tribunal.o UnderoSectiono15oofotheoAct,oanoappealoliesoagainstoeveryoorderopassedobyo courtomartial.oo o o Expressiono'courtomartial'ohasobeenodefinedobyoSectiono108o ofoArmyoAct.o'Summaryocourtomartial'oisooneokindoofocourtsomartial,othus,o everyoorderopassedobyosummaryocourtomartialoisoanoappealableoorder.o Thereo areo fouro kindso ofo courtso martialo namelyo Generalo courts-omartial,oDistrictocourts-martial,oSummaryogeneralocourts-omartialo ando Summaryo courts-martial.o Courtso martialo aftero followingo procedureo prescribedo undero Armyo Acto haveo powero too imposeo punishment.o Aparto fromo Courtso martial,o thereo areo provisionso whicho empowero President,o Centralo Governmento ando Officerso ofo Armyo too awardo punishmento includingodismissalofromoservice.oSectionso79-84oofoArmyoActoprovideoforo punishmentootherwiseothanobyocourtomartial.oAuthoritiesounderoSectiono 79-84o haveo powero too imposeo minoro penaltyo ando thereo iso noo powero too dismisso fromo service.o Undero Sectiono 18-24o ofo Armyo Act,o President,o CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -13-o o Central Government and officers of Army have power to dismiss or remove from service. The marginal note of Section 19 of Army Act has used expression 'termination of service' and in the body of section, expression 'dismissal and removal from service' has been used. Similarly, as per Rule 14 (4) of the Army Rules, 1954 expression termination includes dismissal and removal from service. It means understanding of legislature with respect to expression 'termination', 'dismissal' and 'removal' is that termination includes dismissal as well removal. Clause (ii) of Section 3 (o) of 2007 Act includes 'termination', thus, all orders of 'termination' passed by authorities other than court martial are amenable to original jurisdiction of the Tribunal under Section 14 of the 2007 Act. Section 19 of the Army Act and Rule 14 (4) of Rules read as: Section 19: Termination of service by Central Government.-Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder the Central Government may dismiss, or remove from the service, any person subject to this Act. Rule 14: Termination of service by the Central Government on account of misconduct.-

(4) When submitting a case to the Central Government under the provisions of sub-rule (2) or sub-rule (3), the Chief of the Army Staff shall make his recommendation whether the officer's service should be terminated, and if so, whether the officer should be-

(a) dismissed from the service; or

(b) removed from the service; or CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -16-o o o (c)o Compulsorilyoretiredofromotheoservice.oo

13.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroisoheavilyorelyingoupono Clauseo (iii)o ofo inclusiveo parto ofo Sectiono 3o (o)o too contendo thato whereo punishmentoisolessothanodismissaloinosummaryotrial,otheoTribunalowouldo haveonoojurisdiction,ohowever,otheopetitionerohasoignoredoClauseo(iv)oofo inclusionopartoofoSectiono3o(o)oofotheoActoandoopeningoexpressionoofotheo Sectionowhichoprovideothatoallomattersorelatingotooconditionsoofoserviceo wouldobeocoveredowithinotheodefinitionoofoserviceomatters.oItoisosettledo principleo ofo interpretationo thato Courto cannoto reado oneo sectiono oro sub-sectiono ino isolation.o Allo theo provisionso ofo ano Acto needo too beo reado ino conjunctionoandoconsonanceowithoeachoother.oCourtsoareosupposedotootakeo careoofointentionoofotheolegislatureoandoschemeoofotheoActothoughoitoiso settledolawothatoplainomeaning,oifolanguageoisounambiguous,ooughtotoobeo preferred.oAnointerpretationowhichomakesoanyoprovisionootioseoorodefeatso objectoofotheostatuteoshouldobeoavoided.oInterpretationoshouldobeomadeoino suchoaomannerothatoobjectoofotheostatuteoisoachieved.oo o o Inotheocaseoinohand,oitowouldobeounfairoifoopeningoexpressiono andoclauseo(iv)oofoSectiono3(o)oareoignoredowhileointerpretingoclauseo(iii).o Allotheoclausesoneedotoobeoreadoinoconjunctionowithoeachoother.oOnotheo basisoofoplainoreadingoofoclauseo(iii),oifomattersowhichoareonotocoveredobyo exclusiono clauses,o areo excludedo fromo theo scopeoofo 'serviceomatters'o ito wouldoamountotooexpandingoscopeoofoexclusionoclauseowhichocannotobeo permissible.o Ito wouldo beo furthero contraryo too intento ando purporto ofo theo enactmentoasowelloprinciplesoofointerpretation.oooooooooo

14.o o Fromotheoconjointoreadingoofoexpressiono"meansoallomatterso CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -17-o o relatingo too conditionso ofo theiro service"o ando "anyo othero matter,o whatsoever",oitoisoquiteoevidentothatojurisdictionoofoTribunaloisoveryovast.o TheoTribunalohasojurisdictionotooentertainoallocasesoexceptothoseowhichoareo specificallyo excludedo fromo theo jurisdictiono ofo theo Tribunal.o Ino theo exclusionoClause,othereoareofourocategoriesoofomattersowhichoareoexcludedo fromotheodefinitionoofo'serviceomatters'.oTheolegislatureohasospecificallyo excludedofewoconditionsoofoserviceofromotheopurviewoofo'serviceomatters'.o Theolegislatureohasoexcludedofewoconditionsoofoserviceofromotheodefinitiono ofo'serviceomatters'oandoexclusionoofoanyootheroconditionoofoserviceowouldo amountotoore-writingoofoSectiono3o(o)owhichoisonotopermissible.oTheoobjecto ofo theo 2007o Acto iso too provideo expeditious,o alternativeo ando efficaciouso remedyotootheomembersoofotheoarmedoforces.oThisoCourtowhileodealingo withoserviceomattersoofodifferentoorganizationsohasonoticedothatomostoofo theocasesoareoofopunishmentolessothanodismissal.oAsoperointerpretationoofo petitioner,oanoemployeeowhooisosubjectedotoominimumopunishmentoshouldo approachoHighoCourtoinsteadoofoTribunal.oTheointerpretationoofopetitionero notoonlyorunsocontraryotooobjectso&oreasonsoofo2007oActobutoalsooplaino readingoofoSectiono3o(o)oofotheoAct.oClauseo(iv)oisoaoresiduaryoClause.o Expressiono'whatsoever'ohasobeenousedoinotheosaidoclause.oTheoexpressiono 'whatsoever'o cannoto beo ignored.o Expressiono 'whatsoever'o carrieso wideo connotation.oo

15.o o Ao Divisiono Bencho ofo Allahabado Higho Courto ino Majoro KunwaroAmbreshwaroSingho(supra)ohasoadvertedowithosimilaroquestiono ando heldo thato Clauseo (iv)o ofo inclusiono parto ofo Sectiono 3(o)o cannoto beo ignored.oIfotheoeffectoofotheosaidoclauseoisonototakenointooaccount,oitowouldo CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -18-o o ma!eoc*auseo9iv)oredundanto+hichoisonotopermissib*eounderointerpretativeo jurisprudence.o6heore*evantoe:tractsoofotheojudgmentoreadoas:o @22. In view of above, while interpreting the provisions contained in Section 3(o) of the Act, the provisions contained in Clause (iv) containing the words, "any other matter, whatsoever," cannot be excluded. In case these words are not taken into account, it shall make Clause (iv) redundant which is not permissible under Interpretative jurisprudence.

¶25The punishment of ''severe reprimand'' affect the service career of the army personnel. Even under dictionary meaning, the punishment of ''severe reprimand'' shall be service matter and be amenable before Armed Forces Tribunal constituted under the Act. In view of above, keeping in view statutory mandate as well as the provisions contained in Section 84 of the Army Act, 1950, the punishment of "severe reprimand" shall be deemed to be a punishment and fall under the category of "service matter" as defined by Section 3 of the Act and can be impugned before the Armed Forces Tribunal in pursuance to the provisions contained in the Act. With great respect, we are not in agreement with the interpretation given by the Armed Forces Tribunal, Principal Bench, Delhi for the reasons assigned hereinabove. Let the records be remitted back to the Regional Bench of Armed Forces Tribunal, Lucknow within two weeks from today to decide the petition on merit, expeditiously, say within a period of three months from the date of production of a certified copy of the present order/judgment.Go %7.o o 6hereoisoanotheroaspectoofotheoissueoinvo*ved.oAsopero"*auseo 9iv)oofoe:c*usionopartoofo,ectiono3o9o),o;serviceomatters;osha**onotoinc*udeo CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -19-o o summaryocourtomartialoexceptowhereotheopunishmentoisoofodismissalooro imprisonmento foro moreo thano 3o months.o Sectiono 15o ofo theo 2007o Acto provideso foro appealo againsto anyo order,o decision,o findingo oro sentenceo passedobyoaocourtomartialooroanyomatteroconnectedotherewithooroincidentalo thereto.o Sectiono 108o ofo Armyo Acto specifieso kindso ofo courtso martial.o Summaryo courtso martialo iso oneo ofo courtso martialo whicho meanso everyo order,odecision,ofindingoorosentenceopassedobyosummaryocourtomartialoiso subjectotoochallengeobyowayoofoappealobeforeoTribunal.oAsoperoSectiono14o ofo2007oAct,oTribunalohasooriginalojurisdictionowhereasobyoSectiono15,o TribunaloisovestedowithoAppellateojurisdiction.oOnoaccountoofoexclusionoofo anoorderopassedobyosummaryocourtomartialofromotheodefinitionoofo'serviceo matters',o ano aggrievedo persono cannoto invokeo originalo jurisdictiono ofo TribunalounderoSectiono14,ohowever,oheocanoinvokeoAppellateojurisdictiono ofotheoTribunal.oInotheoaforesaidoClauseo(iv)oexpressiono'except'ohasobeeno used.oo oooooo Ifotheocontentionoofotheopetitioneroisoappliedotooclauseo(iv)oofo exclusionopart,owhereotheopunishmentoofodismissalooroimprisonmentoforo moreothano3omonthsoisoawardedobyosummaryocourtomartial,otheoTribunalo shallo haveo originalo jurisdictiono undero Sectiono 14o whereaso ino allo othero cases,otheoTribunaloshalloexerciseoAppellateojurisdiction.oo o Sectiono15oprovidesoforoappealoagainstoanyoorder,odecision,o findingoorosentenceopassedobyoaocourtomartialooroanyomatteroconnectedo therewithooroincidentalothereto.oTheoAppellateojurisdictionoofoTribunaloiso veryovast.oEveryoorderoofosummaryocourto martialoisosubjectotooappeal,o therefore,oorderoofodismissalooroimprisonmentoforomoreothano3omonthsoiso CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -20-o o alsooappealable.oThereoseemsonooreasonotooincludeoorderoofopunishmentoofo dismissalooroimprisonmentoforomoreothano3omonthsoinotheodefinitionoofo 'serviceomatters'oandoexcludeoallootheroordersopassedobyosummaryocourto martialofromotheodefinitionoofo'serviceomatters'.oAllotheoordersoofosummaryo courtomartialoareoappealable,othus,oinoviewoofoplainolanguageoofoSectiono15o ofo theo 2007o Act,o allo orderso passedo byo summaryo courto martialo stando excludedofromotheopurviewoofoSectiono3o(o)oreadowithosectiono14oofo2007o Act.oo o AoDivisionoBenchoofoUttrakhandoHighoCourtoinoLalitoKumaro (supra)ohasoadvertedowithoClauseo(iv)oofoexclusionopartoofoSectiono3o(o)oofo theoAct.oTheoCourtohasoadvertedowithoexpressiono'except'ousedoinoaforesaido clauseovis-a-visoSectiono15oofotheoAct.oTheoCourtohasoconcludedothatoino orderotoomakeotheoActoinoconsonanceowithotheounderstandingoofoUnionoofo Indiaoasowelloasolegislature,owordo'except'oisosuperfluousoandotheosameo shouldobeoremoved.oTheoCourtohasofurtheroopinedothatoafteroremovaloofo wordo'except'ofromoClauseo(iv),oordersoofosummaryocourtomartialowhereo theopunishmentoisoofolessothano3omonthsowouldocomeowithinotheomeaningo ofo'serviceomatters'obyoreasonoofoplainoEnglishousedoinotheoStatute.oTheo relevantoextractsoofotheojudgmentoreadoas:o "Ino theo evento theo wordo 'except'o aso underlinedo byo uso remains,osummaryocourtomartialowhereotheopunishmentoiso ofo dismissalo oro imprisonmento foro moreo thano threeo months,owillobecomeoserviceomattersotoobeodealtowithobyo theo Tribunalo ino exerciseo ofo jurisdictionovestedo ino itotoo dealowithoserviceomatters.oButoifotheosaidowordo'except'oiso removedo theno summaryo courto maritalo whereo theo punishmento iso ofo dismissalo oro imprisonmento foro moreo Asgar Ali thanothreeomonthsowillobeoexcludedofromoserviceomatterso CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -21-o o and accordingly shall be dealt with in exercise of appellate power granted by Section 15 of the Act. The Union of India is of the view that summary court martial where the punishment is of dismissal or imprisonment for more than three months, should be outside of the purview of service matters. It is also of the view that imprisonment for less than three months is outside the purview of the Tribunal. The way words have been couched, while giving definition of service matters, it does not appear that legislature understood the requirement of Union of India that imprisonment for less than three months should be outside the purview of the Tribunal. The manner in which the words have been couched in the Statute, if underlined word 'except' is retained then where the punishment is of dismissal or imprisonment for more than three months, the same will form part of service matters and shall be dealt with in accordance with jurisdiction vested in the Tribunal by Section 14 of the Act; where as summary court martial where the punishment is less than three months shall be dealt with by the Tribunal in exercise of its appellate power under Section 15 of the Act, and in case, the word 'except' is removed summary court martial where the punishment is of dismissal or imprisonment for more than three months shall be dealt with by the Tribunal in exercise of its appellate jurisdiction vested by Section 15 of the Act. We, therefore, feel that in order to make the Act in consonance with the understanding of Union of India as well as the legislature the underlined word 'except' is superfluous and the same should be removed. We, accordingly, do the same. Even after removal of the underlined word 'except' summary court martial where the punishment is of less than three months, the same would come within the meaning of service matters by reason of plain English used in the CWP-3118-2023o(O&M)oandootheroconnectedocases.o o -22-o o Statute.oItoshallobeoopenotootheoappropriateoauthorityotoo takeoappropriateostepsoinothatoregard."o o o o o [oEmphasisoSupplied]o o o Theo UOIo filedo SLPo (Civil)o No.o 33898o ofo 2001o beforeo Supremeo Courto againsto aforesaido judgmento whicho video ordero datedo

15.12.2015o standso dismissedo alongwitho Criminalo Appealo No.o 948o ofo 2010.oo o o Inoviewoofoaforesaidojudgment,oalloordersopassedobyosummaryo courtomartialowhereopunishmentoisootherothanodismissaloorolessothano3o monthsoimprisonmentowouldobeoamenableotooTribunal.oUttrakhandoHigho Courtohasoorderedotooremoveowordo'except'ofromoclauseo(iv)oinoviewoofo intentionoandopurportoofotheoAct.oSimilarly,oclauseo(iv)oofoinclusionoparto needsotoobeoconstruedotooincludeopunishmentootherothanopunishmentoofo dismissal.ooooo

17.o o Inotheowakeoofoabove-statedofactsoandofindings,ojudgmentsoofo AllahabadoandoUttrakhandoHighoCourt,othisoCourtoisoofotheoconsideredo opinionothatopetitionoagainstotheoimpugnedoorderoisomaintainableobeforeo ArmedoForceoTribunal.oo

18.o o Allo theo petitionso areo disposedo ofo witho ao directiono too theo Registryo too transfero completeo papero bookso ofo allo theo caseso too AFT,o Chandigarh.oo o o o ooooooooo o o o o o o o o o o (oJAGMOHANoBANSALo) o o o o o o o o ooooooJUDGEo

03.10.2023o Alio Whetherospeaking/reasonedo Yes/Noo WhetheroReportableo Yes/Noo