Chandigarh, September 13
A general court martial (GCM) has dismissed a major-general after he was held guilty of molesting a woman officer under his command. This is the first time that an officer of the rank of major-general has been convicted for such an offence.
The GCM, presided over by the General Officer Commanding 10 Corps, Lt-Gen R.S. Sujlana, concluded at the Bathinda military station today. The GCM’s verdict is subject to confirmation by the Chief of the Army Staff. Dismissal from service will deprive him of his pension and ex-serviceman benefits.
Maj-Gen A.K. Lal was tried on four charges that included molestation under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, read with Section 69 (civil offences) of the Army Act, and holding meditation classes in his bedroom. The other two charges include attempts to influence two officers who were witnesses in the case. The court found him guilty on all four counts.
The officer, on his part, had denied the allegations. He will have the option to appeal against the verdict before the GCM’s convening authority, both before and after it is confirmed, and if he is not satisfied by the convening authority’s action, he can seek legal redressal from the high court. It is also possible that his case may come up before the Armed Forces Tribunal that is expected to begin functioning shortly.
His counsel, Lt Col P.N. Chaturvedi (retd), who incidentally was not present in the court today, said he was not aware of the GCM’s verdict, but added that according to the high court orders, the final outcome of the GCM was subject to the matter being disposed of by the high court.
General Lal was posted as the General Officer Commanding 3 Infantry Division near Leh last year, when a woman officer, Capt Neha Rawat, had, in a written complaint, alleged sexual misconduct on his part on the pretext of holding meditation classes at his residence.
In September, the Army ordered a court of inquiry (COI) into the matter and General Lal was removed from command and attached to Headquarters 15 Corps. The COI, presided over by Lt-Gen A.S. Sekhon, the then corps commander, had, in November 2007, held him prima facie blameworthy. Later he was moved out from the Northern Command attached to Mathura-based 1 Corps on technical grounds as trial within the Northern Command posed legal lacunae.
The GCM had assembled at Bathinda on July 7, but proceedings were initially deferred because the accused had proceeded on leave due his mother’s demise. Later he was admitted to hospital for treatment of his back.
When the allegations levelled by Captain Rawat had become public, the general’s family had, in a press conference held in Chandigarh, strongly defended him and had termed the charges levelled against him as incorrect and motivated.
