Court Martial News: Lt Gen Prakash too suffers hearing problem

Court Martial News: Lt Gen Prakash too suffers hearing problem; Court Martial soon

February 1, 2010 23:58 IST

New Delhi: Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash, who retired as military secretary on Sunday, is likely to be attached to an Army Command’s headquarters soon for court martial proceedings in the Sukna land scam, even as there were reports that he suffered partial hearing impairment in service for which he would take home 20% more pension.

Incidentally, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor too suffered partial hearing impairment on his left ear after a visit to the US and attending a fire power demonstration by artillery guns in July last, but wrote to defence minister AK Antony against the 20% additional pension after media reports in this regard.

Army sources said here that the attachment would happen soon, though summary of evidence and the court martial thereafter would take another couple of months to commence.

Gen Kapoor had ordered disciplinary action leading to a court martial against Prakash for influencing the No Objection Certificate to a private realtor, who falsely claimed that he would start an educational institution affiliated to the Ajmer-based Mayo College, to buy a 71-acre land adjacent to Sukna military station.

The order came after Antony overturned Kapoor’s decision to initiate administrative action against Prakash and advised him to take disciplinary action.

Prakash is a close aide of the army chief on account of being the principal staff officer in charge of postings, promotions and transfers.

Army sources said three weeks before Kapoor himself was certified as partially disabled due to hearing problems, Prakash too was classified under partially disabled personnel and would be entitled to the 20 per cent hike in his pension.

The then military secretary too was placed in the ‘H2′ low hearing medical category. Army officers are expected to be in SHAPE1 (meaning top grade in psychological, hearing, appendages, physical and eyes) fitness levels.

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Michael Waddington is a court martial lawyer – court martial attorney that defends military personnel worldwide as well as deployed civilian contractors subject to the UCMJ. He defends Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guard, and civilian contractor court martial cases. He has successfully defended military personnel as a court martial lawyer Army Navy Marine & Air Force court martials in Germany, England, San Diego, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fort Bragg, Fort Jackson, Fort Stewart, Fort Gordon, Italy, Iraq, Kuwait, Korea, Okinawa, Japan, Yokota, and throughout the United States.