Chandigarh, December 23
An officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Department has alleged “disobedience” of a presidential order by the Army.

In a petition filed before the Delhi High Court, Lt Col Mukul Dev has contended that he was not being absorbed into the JAG Department despite the President’s sanction being accorded for the same in September.

The court has directed the Army that the officer be given leave till the next date of hearing, which has been fixed on January 3. The Army was supposed to file a counter affidavit, but failed to do so for the second time. Instead, it stated before the court that it was verifying the petitioner’s academic qualifications. On an earlier hearing, the court had directed the Army to file the affidavit on the subsequent hearing, when it had failed to do so earlier.

The officer has contended that after spending over four years in the JAG Department, fulfilling the eligibility criteria and undertaking regular departmental work, he was being posted back to his parent regiment.

Already several other JAG officers have moved court, challenging transfers and postings in the department. Recently, a fresh controversy was generated when Army Headquarters sought the details of law degrees of officers from other arms seeking a transfer to the JAG Department and their whereabouts at the time they were supposed to appear for university examinations. This directive came when the officers concerned had already passed the JAG entrance examination and were undertaking regular work, including conduct of trials.