Shillong: A senior official of the Army`s
legal branch is understood to have been moved out of the
court martial in the Sukna land scam case soon after he made
observations against the charges on Lt Gen P K Rath, who has
been arraigned in the case.
Sources said after Army`s counsel in the court martial
Brigadier, T Prasad, made certain written remarks against the
charges or procedures in the case to Eastern Army Commander Lt
Gen Bikram Singh, he was posted out and replaced by another
officer.
As per the Army Rule 105, the Judge Advocate General
(JAG) is entitled to give his opinion if he finds any
irregularity in charge or procedures to the convening
authority.
Prasad was the Deputy Judge Advocate General (DJAG) at
the Jaipur-based South Western Army Command and was attached
with the Court Martial. He has now been ordered to join in
Lucknow on a short notice, sources said.
However, Army officials denied that maintained that
Brig Prasad had been shifted out because of his comments in
the case. They maintained that the Brigadier completed his
tenure in the SWAC and was posted out before the commencement
of the court martial.
In the trial, the Army will now be represented by
Brigadier Rajendra Singh, who is the DJAG at the Pune-based
Southern Command.
The court martial proceedings in the case are
beginning here tomorrow and will be headed by EME College
Commandant Lt Gen I J Singh. He will be assisted by two other
Lt Gens also in the court martial.
PTI
