SC suggests reopening of Army gunrunning case

The Supreme Court asked the Army on Tuesday to clarify if disciplinary proceedings could be initiated against high-ranking officers of the South-Western Command for selling their personal weapons to shopkeepers and traders in Ganganagar, Rajasthan.

They are among the 72 found guilty by an Army Court of Inquiry in 2008 for selling ammunition and imported arms in violation of the Army Orders and Arms Act, 1959.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Arvind Kumar Sharma.

In the previous hearing, a Bench comprising Justices H.L. Dattu and S.A. Bobde condemned the 2008 Army proceedings as “eyewash.”

Representing the Army, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi argued that officers could buy non-standard pattern weapons from the Jabalpur Ordnance factory and sell them outside, provided they took permission from the District Magistrate. In the present case, the guns were sold to arms licence holders but the officers had not taken the magistrate’s permission. Mr. Rohatgi argued that the punishment rendered to them was adequate.

But the Bench did not accept his contentions. “These are Army officers. Besides their service arms, they procure personal weapons from the Jabalpur factory and sell them to all and sundry. Is this conduct befitting an Army officer?” Justice Dattu asked. The Bench suggested that a second round of proceedings be opened against the guilty officers.