Chandigarh, August 21
In an unprecedented case, a lady doctor in the Air Force is to be tried by a general court martial (GCM) for her acts which allegedly led to one of her subordinates committing suicide at Chandigarh a few months ago, it is learnt.
The doctor, Sqn Ldr Priya Jairaj, is facing charges of abetment to suicide under various provisions of the Air Force Act and the Indian Penal Code. She was posted at Chandigarh when the incident took place.
According to sources, the GCM is scheduled to commence at the Chandigarh Air Force Station tomorrow. Station Commander of the Thoise Air Force Station, Gp Capt P. Jaiswal, has been appointed the court’s presiding officer.
The summary of evidence (SoE) in the case was recorded at the Air Force Station, Suratgarh, where the officer was attached on commencement of disciplinary proceedings against her.
It may be recalled that 32-yerar-old Sergeant Srinivasan committed suicide in September last, by hanging himself from a tree near the Air Force Station. According to reports, the police had recovered a suicide note from him, in which he had blamed his superior officer, Priya, of harassment. Both were then posted at the medical section of 12 Wing here.
The Chandigarh Police had registered a case and booked the officer on charges of abetment to suicide. The IAF had initiated its own investigations into the incident and a court of inquiry (CoI) was ordered by the Western Air Command.
The CoI, evidently held the lady doctor blameworthy for certain acts on her part which had allegedly led the airman to commit suicide. The CoI was presided over by a Wing Commander from IAF’s medical branch.
Squadron Leader Priya is the second lady officer in the Air Force to face disciplinary action.
