New Delhi, Feb. 22: The armed forces tribunal, ruling Monday that there was a "mockery of the principles of natural justice" in the procedure followed by the Army court of inquiry in the Sukna land case, ordered the reassembling of the court of inquiry to give
former military secretary Lt. Gen. Avadesh Prakash (Retd) an opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses and defend himself.
Granting partial relief to Lt. Gen. Prakash, the petitioner, the tribunal ruled the "court of inquiry should be completed within two months from today."
After that, the tribunal said, "the authorities will be free to decide ... whether to send it for court-martial or not."
Lt. Gen. Prakash, through counsel Jyoti Singh, earlier petitioned the tribunal against the disciplinary action ordered by the Army.
He said initially the Army had issued a showcause notice to him on why administrative action of "censure" not be taken against him, but was later informed he would be "attached" for disciplinary action.
The military tribunal noted that "cognisance against Lt. Gen. Avadesh Prakash was taken on November 18, 2009, (when) almost 18 witnesses were already examined."
Age Correspondent