A Basic Court docket Martial (GCM) of the Military carried out in Ambala Cantonment has discovered a subedar responsible of demanding sexual favours from a lady for giving her a job at a Canteen Shops Division (CSD) outlet.
Subedar Anil Kumar Pandey of 105 Engineer Regiment has been discovered responsible of the cost framed below Part 69 of the Military Act (civil offence) learn with part 354(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for sexual harassment within the court docket martial that concluded final week. The GCM was convened by the Basic Officer Commanding (GOC) 40 Artillery Division and presided over by Colonel Charanpreet Singh of HQ 37 Infantry Brigade.
The subedar served below the Engineer Brigade and carried out the duties of CSD junior commissioned officer (JCO). On September 29, 2022, he allegedly demanded sexual favours from the girl, who was a former worker of the CSD and was looking for re-appointment.
The girl complained to Military authorities, which led to an investigation by way of a Court docket of Inquiry and subsequent disciplinary motion in opposition to the subedar. The GCM commenced the proceedings on September 3 this yr, and the JCO pleaded not responsible to the cost. Thereafter, the prosecution produced proof by way of the prosecutor and the opposite witnesses. The JCO didn’t produce any defence proof.
The trial discovered the JCO responsible of the accusations. The defence counsel claimed that the girl had been calling repeatedly concerning re-appointment in CSD, and the subedar had solely scolded her to not hassle him.
Moreover, based on his account, false allegations have been made in opposition to him in an try and extort cash. Nevertheless, the subedar acknowledged earlier than a Board of Officers and through a Abstract of Proof that he had demanded sexual favours and used inappropriate language through the dialog.
The GCM awarded him the punishments of (a) forfeiture of previous service of three years for the aim of elevated pay, (b) to forfeit 5 years previous service for the aim of pension, (c) to be severely reprimanded. The discovering and sentence have been introduced topic to affirmation by a reliable authority.
