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MuZammiL Dr. s[1]n
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Indian Air Force sergeant who molested child given relief, punishment termed 'too harsh'
1
by Manish Raj
[Times of India]
CHENNAI: Holding that dismissal of an Indian Air Force (IAF) sergeant for molesting a child is too harsh a punishment, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) here has asked the IAF to treat it as 'discharge' and not dismissal. Thanks to this indulgence of the tribunal, the sergeant and his family will now receive pension and other benefits.
While holding sergeant R K Suttar guilty of molestation, an AFT bench comprising judicial member V Periya Karuppiah and administrative member Anand Mohan Verma said: "If he is denied the benefit accrued on his 15 years of unblemished service, it would mean depriving his family members of the assistance. Imposing dismissal order is not proportionate to the guilt." It then said the sergeant's removal from service should be treated as discharge. It also granted him pension and other benefits.
Suttar was accused of molesting a six-year-old girl at his residential quarters in Tambaram. The case came to light after the girl told her mother about it. Suttar, when confronted, confessed to the crime and went on to report his act to officials. A court of inquiry was formed and he was found guilty. The Chief of Air Staff then dismissed him from service. As his appeal to IAF authorities was dismissed as being devoid of merits, he approached the southern regional bench of AFT.
In his petition, he denied the charges and raised several arguments in his defence - that the child was angry as he did not give her chocolate; that his neighbours were jealous of his high qualifications; and that he was forced to sign on typed papers.
Rejected his arguments, the tribunal pointed out that there was sufficient evidence to prove his guilt. It said his claim that he and his wife were 'threatened to put their signature in already typed matter' could not be true. Suttar's deposition before the court of inquiry was corroborated by the confession he had made to his wife, it said. The tribunal also rejected Suttar's argument that the Chief of Air Staff did not apply his mind while dismissing his statutory appeal.
But taking into consideration the 'facts and circumstances of the case' along with the sergeant's 'unblemished service record for 15 years', the tribunal modified his dismissal into discharge and also granted pension benefits.
Indian Air Force sergeant who molested child given relief, punishment termed 'too harsh' | Terminal X
1
by Manish Raj
[Times of India]
CHENNAI: Holding that dismissal of an Indian Air Force (IAF) sergeant for molesting a child is too harsh a punishment, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) here has asked the IAF to treat it as 'discharge' and not dismissal. Thanks to this indulgence of the tribunal, the sergeant and his family will now receive pension and other benefits.
While holding sergeant R K Suttar guilty of molestation, an AFT bench comprising judicial member V Periya Karuppiah and administrative member Anand Mohan Verma said: "If he is denied the benefit accrued on his 15 years of unblemished service, it would mean depriving his family members of the assistance. Imposing dismissal order is not proportionate to the guilt." It then said the sergeant's removal from service should be treated as discharge. It also granted him pension and other benefits.
Suttar was accused of molesting a six-year-old girl at his residential quarters in Tambaram. The case came to light after the girl told her mother about it. Suttar, when confronted, confessed to the crime and went on to report his act to officials. A court of inquiry was formed and he was found guilty. The Chief of Air Staff then dismissed him from service. As his appeal to IAF authorities was dismissed as being devoid of merits, he approached the southern regional bench of AFT.
In his petition, he denied the charges and raised several arguments in his defence - that the child was angry as he did not give her chocolate; that his neighbours were jealous of his high qualifications; and that he was forced to sign on typed papers.
Rejected his arguments, the tribunal pointed out that there was sufficient evidence to prove his guilt. It said his claim that he and his wife were 'threatened to put their signature in already typed matter' could not be true. Suttar's deposition before the court of inquiry was corroborated by the confession he had made to his wife, it said. The tribunal also rejected Suttar's argument that the Chief of Air Staff did not apply his mind while dismissing his statutory appeal.
But taking into consideration the 'facts and circumstances of the case' along with the sergeant's 'unblemished service record for 15 years', the tribunal modified his dismissal into discharge and also granted pension benefits.
Indian Air Force sergeant who molested child given relief, punishment termed 'too harsh' | Terminal X
