New Delhi: For the first time in Army`s
history, a woman officer was placed under arrest by a court
martial in which she had appeared as a witness on charges of
contempt of court.
The unprecedented action by an Army court took place at
Panagarh in West Bengal under the Eastern Army Command, where
Major Rajshri was placed under arrest after she and the court
reportedly had a verbal duel, defence sources said today.
Rajshri, who is at present serving as Assistant Advocate
General (Legal) in the Army`s Bengal Area headquarters in
Kolkata, was recently appearing as a witness before the court
martial, which was trying a Lt Colonel posted at the military
hospital for allegedly indulging in private practice and for
misusing the military infrastructure.
Lt Col Virender Mohan, Additional Judge Advocate General
of the Eastern Command headquarters was the Judge Advocate of
the Court Martial, the sources added.
During her deposition before the court martial, there
was some heated exchanges between her and the court. "Taking
it as Contempt of Court, an offence punishable under Army Act,
the Court Martial placed her under arrest," they said.
Following the incident, the court martial proceedings were
adjourned sine die. The woman officer also chose to lodge a
complaint to the Army top brass with regard to her "illegal
confinement with an escort officer keeping guard", they said.
She was later released on instructions from the Bengal
Area Commander, they added.
PTI
