New Delhi, Feb 28: The offer of Indian Air Force
(IAF) to take back in service retired Air Vice-Marshal Harish
Masand only for the purpose of giving him benefits accruable
to the post of Air Marshal without assigning him any work drew
flak from the Supreme Court.
Defending very low marks awarded to Masand by the
Service Selection Board resulting in his non-promotion to Air
Marshal Rank, Solicitor General G E Vahanvati pointed out to
the court certain facts considered by the IAF Board including
alleged birth certificate procurement from Pakistan where he
was born.
Keeping in mind the fact that Masand had got top
grades on his career assessment, a bench comprising Justice
Y K Sabharwal and Justice P P Naolekar said the proposal for
taking him back in service but without assigning him any work
needed a reconsideration.
Vahanvati, quick to notice the court's
dissatisfaction, said he would convey the feelings of the
bench to the IAF even as the matter was adjourned for further
hearing on March 14.
Masand had challenged the decision of IAF board not to
promote him in the Delhi High Court, which had quashed the
board while directing the IAF to reconsider the promotions on
the basis of the 2004 policy where career assessments made from
90 per cent of the total 600 marks.
When the Air Force appealed against the High Court
order, the apex court had passed a similar order. However,
even after re-evaluation, the results were no different than
earlier.
Bureau Report
