Just came across this funny article...
source :http://news.in.msn.com/national/arti...mentid=1667510
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Major sacked for goat theft loses appeal
Major Ahulwalia was court martialled following a complaint from the Rajasthan police that the Major, who was posted in Barmer district and was CO of the 116 Medium Regiment, had stolen goats and sheep belonging to villagers in 1982
New Delhi: Former Major Manjeet Singh Ahluwalia's alleged bid to make a quick buck by stealing the goats of villagers and selling them off cost him his job 26 years ago. But he thought he was innocent and fought a legal battle which he lost today.
The Delhi High Court rejected the former Major's plea to restore his service and dismissed his petition challenging the sentence of "cashiering" awarded by the General Court Martial (GCM.)
A Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Mool Chand Garg said "we find no infirmity in the order passed by the GCM and appellate authority."
The Bench accepted the submission made by Jyoti Singh, counsel for Indian Army that the GCM was conducted in accordance with law and there was no violation of Army rules at any stage.
In October 1983, Ahulwalia was court martialled following a complaint from the Rajasthan police that the Major, who was posted in Ramsar, Barmer district and commanding officer of 116 Medium Regiment, had stolen several goats and sheep belonging to villagers in 1982.
The officer was also sentenced to undergo two years imprisonment for the offence committed under the Army Act. After confirmation of the sentence by the Secretary Ministry of Defence in 1985, the Chief of Army staff had deducted 50 per cent of his pay and allowances as part of punishment.