Holding

Parliamentary enactments under Article 33, such as the Air Force Act and Rules, validly restrict the right to state‑funded legal aid for armed forces personnel, and the Court Martial proceedings were lawful.

Summary

The case concerned Flight Lieutenant G.S. Bajwa, who was dismissed by a General Court Martial under the Air Force Act, 1950 for disobeying a medical examination order. Bajwa claimed that the trial violated his fundamental rights because he was denied a defence counsel of his choice at State expense and was not provided copies of the day‑to‑day proceedings, alleging miscarriage of justice. The Union of India contended that the Air Force Act and Rules, enacted under Article 33 of the Constitution, lawfully restrict the right to state‑funded legal aid for armed forces personnel. The Supreme Court held that Parliament may modify or abrogate Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution for members of the armed forces, and that the Act and Rules do not obligate the State to provide a civil counsel at its expense. Consequently, the High Court’s finding of a denial of legal aid and violation of natural justice was set aside, and the Court Martial proceedings were upheld. The appeal was allowed and the writ petition dismissed.

Issues considered

The extent to which Article 33 permits Parliament to restrict the right to legal aid under Articles 21 and 22 for armed forces members.
Whether the respondent was entitled to a defence counsel at State expense under Article 21.
Whether the High Court erred in holding that denial of legal aid and copies of proceedings violated natural justice.
Whether the convening order of the General Court Martial was valid or an unlawful delegation of power.
Whether the respondent was denied a reasonable opportunity to examine defence witnesses.
The role and impartiality of the Judge Advocate in Court Martial proceedings.
Whether there was tampering with the Court Martial record.

Legislation cited

Air Force Act, 1950s. 125, s. 41(2), s. 65
Constitution of Indias. Article 21, s. Article 22, s. Article 33

Subjects

Article 33legal aidcourt martialfundamental rightsAir Force Actdefence counselnatural justicejudge advocatemilitary lawprocedural fairness

Judgment

A UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.
v.
EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA

MAY 2, 2003

B [N. SANTOSH HEGDE AND B.P. SINGH, JJ.]

Service law:

Air Force Act, 19501Sections41(2) and 65/Rules 89, 100, 102, I JO, I I I
C and 125:
Air Force Officer-Dismissal ji-om service by the General Court Martial
on ground of disobedience/misconduct-Challenge to--Reversed by the High
Court directing reinstatement on ground of denial of opportunity to defend-
D Right lo defend vis-a-vis provisions in the Act restricting legal aid- Held:
Since Parliament/legislature could restrict/abrogate any fundamental right
by enacting a law under the provision of Article 33, such law could override
Articles 2 I and 22 ofthe Constitution of India-In the absence of any provision
to provide legal assistance and as respondent was an Officer, his claim for
engaging an advocate of his choice al the State expense on ground ofpoverty!
E indigence not justified-Since respondent chose to defend himselfand dispensed
with the services of 'ji-iend of the accused', he was not prejudiced in his
defence on account of State not providing him defence counsel-Constitution
of India, 1950; Articles 2 I, 22 and 33.

Court Martial Proceedings-Role of Judge Advocate-Held: Judge
F Advocate is not partisan, he neither holds a brieffor !he prosecutor nor for
the defence-He ensures fair /rial/guide !he Court Martial with due care that
accused does no/ suffer because of his position as such.

Court Martial Proceedings-Examination of defence witnesses vis-a-vis
G relevancy of witnesses-Denial of opportunity to defend-Held: Since
respondent was charged/or disobedience, relevancy ofother colleagues/officers
as defence witnesses is doub1jitl-Hence not granling of sufficient time for
eliciting response ji-0111 such witnesses was justified and does not amount to
denial of opportunity to defend

H 1092
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA 1093
Administrative Law: A
Court Martial Proceedings-Non-supplying of copies of day to day
proceedings-Principles of Natural Justice-Held: Though respondent was
not entitled to a copy of day to day proceedings, he was not p1,evented from
inspecting the proceedings-Hence, principles ofNatural .Justice not violated-
Practice and Procedure. B
Words and Phrases:

'Relevancy of witnesses', 'Judge Advocate' and 'ji-iend of accused'-
Meaning of
c
According to the respondent, an Air Force officer, he was harassed
by the authorities at the instance of the then Air Marshal. He was illegally
and improperly admitted in the hospital for psychiatric treatment. He was
also asked to undergo medical examination with a view to re-categorization
of his medical category but he did not obey the order as it was patently D
illegal. A Court Martial was ordered and he was charged and tried for
offences under Sections 41(2) and 65 of the Air Force Act. The General
Court Martial found him guilty and passed an order of dismissal from
service. Aggrieved, respondent filed a writ petition which was allowed by
the High Court directing his reinstatement and payment of back wages
mainly on the ground of denial of his fundamental rights in not permitting E
him to be represented by a counsel of his choice at the expense of the State.

It was contended for the appellant-Union of India that since under
Article 33 of the Constitution of India Parliament could modify/abrogate
the fundamental rights in its application to the members of Armed Forces;
and that in a Court Martial, the authorities were not required to provide F
a counsel at State expenses to the respondent.

On behalf of the respondent, it was submitted that since the power
to convene a Court Martial could not be delegated, the order convening
the Court Martial was unauthorised and illegal; that since the order G
direeting the respondent to undergo a medial examination for
categorisation of his medical category was illegal, he was not bound to obey
the same; and that he was not allowed to examine himself as a defence
witness.

Allowing the appeal, the Court H
1094 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 3 S.C.R.

A HELD: I.I. The High Court neither itself noticed the provisions of
Article 33 of the Constitution of India nor does it appear to have been
brought to its notice. The Parliament, in exercise of powers conferred by
Article 33 of the Constitution of India, can restrict or abrogate the
fundamental rights guaranteed under Part Ill of the Constitution in its
B application to the members of the armed forces. It follows that if any
provision of the Act or the Rules restricts or abrogates any right guaranteed
under Part Ill of the Constitution of India, such provision cannot be
challenged on the ground that it is violative of the fundamental right as
guaranteed under Part Ill. However, such restriction or abrogation is
dependent on Parliamentary legislation and only a law passed by virtue of
C Article 33 can override Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution of India.
Hence, the provisions of the Air Force Act cannot be challenged on the
ground that !hey infringe the fundamental right guaranteed to the
respondent under Article 21 of the Constitution of India
11105-A-B-C-D; II 07-EI

D Ram Sarup v. Union of India and Anr., AIR (1965) SC 247, followed.

LI. Col. Prithi Pal Singh Bedi v. Union oflndia and Ors., 1198213 SCC
140 and Delhi Police Non-Ga::etted Karmachari Sangh and Ors. v. Union of
India and Ors., 1198711 SCC 115, relied on.

E
1.2. The mere fact that the respondent wrote to the President of India
stating that he was not in a position to engage an Advocate at his own cost
was not sufficient to hold that he was unable to do so on account of poverty
or indigence, since he was an officer of the Indian Air Force and was
holding the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Besides, there being no provision
F under the Ad or the Rules to provide a defence counsel at State expense,
the respondent could not claim such a right de-hors the Act and the Rules
on the ground of Article 21 of the Constitution of India which stood
restricted by the Act. 11108-C-DI

Suk Das v. Union Territo1y of Ar1111achal Pradesh, AIR (1986) SC 991,
.G distinguished.
1.3. The respondent was given the option of engaging a civil counsel
of his choice under own arrangement and at his own expense. He was also
informed that he could give the name of any service officer whom he wished
rf to have as his defending officer and whose services will be made available
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA 1095
to him free of co.st. Upon a written request of the respondent the services A
of an officer with legal qualifications having substantial experience was
made available to him as "the friend of the accused" by the convening
authority. In spite of the options given to the respondent and in spite of
several adjournments, respondent did not engage a counsel at his own
expense. When the_defence case commenced, the respondent dispensed with B
the services of the "friend of the accused". In the facts and circumstances
of the case the provisions of the Act and the Rules were scrupulously
followed i_n the conduct of the Court Martial proceedings and since the
respondent chose to defend himself without seeking the help of the
defending officer or the 'friend of the accused', it does not lie in his mouth
to complain that he was prejudiced in his defence on account of the State C
not providing him defence counsel at State expense.
11109-E-F-G-H; II 10-AI

Union ofIndia and Ors. v. Major A. Hussain, (199811 SCC 537, relied
on.
D
Major General lnderJit Kumar v. Union ofIndia and Ors., (199719 SCC
I, distinguished.

Board of Trustees ofthe Port of Bombay v. Dilipkumar Raghavendranath
Nadkarni and Ors., 1198311 SCC 124 and JK. Aggarwal v. Haryana Seeds
Development Corporation Ltd and Ors., 1199112 sec 283, held inapplicable. E

1.4. The High Court proceeded on the wrong assumption that the
I Judge Advocate was there to assist the prosecution and he along with the
prosecutor constituted a team against which it pitted the hapless accused
in the trial in Court Martial proceeding. It completely misdirected itself
and laboured under a complete mis-conception of the duties and the role F
.. of the Judge Advocate. The powers and duties laid down under the Act
leaves no room for doubt that though a participant in the proceeding, he
is not partisan. He holds a brief neither for the prosecutor nor for the
defence. He must guide the Court Martial when questions of law arise and
render his honest opinion regardless of the consideration whether it helps G
the prosecution or the defence. He is neither a friend of the prosecutor nor
an adversary of the defence. He has to maintain an entirely impartial
position charged with the duty of taking care that the accused does not
suffer any disadvantage in consequence of his position as such. The Judge
Advocate performs a solemn obligation to advise honestly and to guide
dispassionately the Court Martial with the objective to ensure a fair trial H
1096 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 3 S.C.R.

A and justice according to law. The duties with which he is charged and the
impartiality expected of him must assure the person being tried that he
shall not suffer any disadvantage on account of his position as such and
that whenever necessary intervention by Judge Advocate shall ensure even
handed justice. Even the Judge Advocate is administered an oath/
affirmation before he enters upon his office. He is bound by his oath to
B carry out the duties of his office in accordance with the Act and the Rules
without partiality, favour or affection and not on any account, at any time,
whatsoever, disclose or discover the vote or opinion on any matter of any
particular member of the Court Martial, unless required to give evidence
thereof by a court of justice or a Court Martial in due course of law. Thus
C the impartiality of the Judge Advocate is ensured. The High Court
erroneously held that the procedural safeguards under th.e Act do not
provide a level playing field and that the dice is heavily loaded against the
accused in a trial before the Court Martial. 11110-E-F; 1111-C-D-E-F-G-HI

1.5. When the charge against the respondent was for disobeying the
D order of his superior officer, examination of the colleague Officers/Chief
of the Air staff as defence witnesses was not relevant. The request was not
even bona fide and was a mere delaying tactics. This apprehension appears
.
to be justified in view of the fact that the respondent asked for adjournment
of the case by 14 days to elicit response of the witnesses and thereafter he
would decide whether to examine them before the Court Martial as his
E witnesses. This depicts the peculiar approach of the respondent. On such
a ground, the Court Martial would have been justified in rejecting the
prayer but the Court Martial granted him 4 days time and accordingly
adjourned the proceedings at his request. Under the circumstances, the
'
finding of the High Court that the Court Martial denied reasonable
F opportunity to the respondent to examine the defence witnesses, is wholly
unsustainable. 11112-D-E-F-G-HI •
1.6. The practice of seeking unnecessary adjournments has become
rampant with the resultant delay in disposal of matters before adjudicatory
authorities and the courts. This practice has been deprecated by this Court.
G Hence no illegality was committed by the Court Martial either in calling
upon the respondent to explain the relevancy of the witnesses or in refusing
a long adjournment sought by the respondent. Though the respondent was
not entitled to a copy of the proceedings day to day as claimed by him, the
proceedings may be inspected by him at all reasonable times before the
H Court is closed to consider the finding. Nothing, therefore, prevented the
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT.LT. G.S. BAJWA 1097
responMnt from inspecting the proceedings and preparing his defence. A
Thus, giving to the respondent an opportunity to go through the
proceedings and for this purpose to inspect the same at all reasonable times
meets the requirement of principles of natural justice.
11114-B, D; It 14-D-El

Union of India and Ors. v. Major A. Hussain, 1199811 SCC 537, relied B
on.

1.7. The mere fact that copies of the proceedings were typed on two
different typewriters does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that the
evidence was changed or the record was tampered. Very often, with a view
to quick disposal of work, the material to be typed may be distributed to C
more than one typist. There was no force in the submission that the
members of the Court Martial, the Judge Advocate and the Prosecutor
tampered the record of proceedings with a view to prejudice the case of
the respondent. Besides, no specific instance was pointed out to substantiate
this charge. 11115-E-FJ
D
1.8. The order for convening the General Court Martial was approved
by Air Marshal in the capacity of Air Officer In-charge Personnel (A.O.P.).
Hence the convening order was authorized and legal. [1116-DI
1.9. In the absence of any material on record the contention of the
respondent that the appellant was bound by the oral undertaking given E
before the High Court not to proceed with the medical board holds no
ground. In any event, even if it is accepted that an oral undertaking was
given, it was only to the effect that no medical board would be held till a
certain stipulated date. There was no undertaking given thereafter.

- 11116-GI F
1.10. No proceeding was brought to the notice of this Court wherein
it was recorded that the respondent shall not be allowed to be examined
as a defence witness. On the contrary, it appears from the extract of
proceedings of the Court Martial that the respondent himself had
confirmed that he had no witnesses to examine in his defence. 11117-B-El G

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal Nos. 10383 of
1996.

From the Judgment and Order dated 3.8.1995 of the Delhi High Court
in C.W.P. No. 245 of 1986. H
1098 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 3 S.C.R.

A Raju Ramchandran, Additioiial Solicitor General, Yipin Sanghi, Brijesh
Kumar and Mrs. Anil Katiyar for the Appellant.

S.K. Bhattacharya (AC) for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
B B.P. SINGH, J. The Union of India has preferred this appeal by special
leave against the judgment and order of the High Court of Delhi dated August
3, 1995 in Civil Writ Petition No. 245 of 1986 whereby the High Comt
allowed the writ petition filed by the respondent herein and while setting
aside the order of dismissal passed by the Court Martial after trial, directed
C his reinstatement in the same post which he held when he was dismissed, but
made his continuation in the same post subject to medical fitness. It also
directed payment of 50% of the back wages to the respondent from the date
of dismissal till the date of the judgment.

The case of the respondent in the writ petition was that he was
D commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 27th June, 1970 and was appointed
to the substantive post of Flight Lieutenant on 27th June, 1976. In the year
1976 he was posted at Udhampur. In the course of his duties he found certain
irregularities in the matter of transportation of explosives, which were being
transported piecemeal at higher rates. He, therefore, brought this to the notice
E of the authorities and pointed out that Air Marshal Dilbagh Singh had passed
orders, which were beyond his jurisdiction and financial powers resulting in
loss to the Union of India. He claimed that on account of his alertness and
fearlessness in pointing out these irregularities, the Union of India saved a
considerable amount. However, by this act of his he incurred the wrath of Air

F
Marshal Dilbagh Singh who instructed his subordinate officers to "fix" him.
He was illegally and improperly admitted in the Psychiatric Ward between
June 15, 1979 and July I0, 1979 and thereafter between August 22, 1979 and
-
October 19, 1979.

The case of the respondent was that on June 18, 1982 Wing Commander
S.L. Gupta directed him to undergo an examination by the Medical Board on
G June 21, 1982 with a view to his recategorisation of last medical category.
This order was patently illegal and, therefore, the respondent did not obey the
order. On account of his disobedience of the order passed by the Wing
Commander, a General Coult Martial was ordered to try him on the charge
of disobeying the lawful command given by his superior officer and also for
H improper conduct prejudicial to the good order and Air Force discipline.
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA [13.P. SINGH. J.] ] 099

Accordingly the respondent was charged of offences punishable under sections A
41 (2) and 65 of the Air Force Act, 1950 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act').
According to the respondent the proceedings before the General Cou11 Martial
were conducted illegally and improperly and in breach of law inasmuch as
the respondent was denied leg~I assistance in the Court Martial proceedings
even though he was charged Of a serious offence which, on proof, entailed B
a sentence of imprisonment for a term which could extend to 14 years under
section 41 (2) and 7 years under Section 65 of the Act. Moreover he was
denied copies of the day to day proceedings which were essential for his
defence. I-le was also denied a fair oppo1tunity to examine witnesses in defence.
The General Court Martial proceeded to try the respondent and ultimately
found him guilty by its verdict pronounced on June 21, 1983. The General C
Court Martial imposed the sentence of dismissal from service. The appeal
preferred by the respondent to the Central Government was dismissed on
January 14, 1985 which compelled him to file the writ petition challenging
the Court Martial proceedings and praying for a declaration that the order
passed by the General Court Martial was null and void.I-le also prayed for all D
consequential benefits including compensation for illegal detention in
Psychiatric Ward and for his illegal arrest on June 21, 1983.

The Union of India controvc11ed the allegations made in the writ petition
and at the threshold took the objection that the question regarding his illegal
confinement in Psychiatric Ward and his illegal arrest were barred by the E
principle of constructive res judicata as he had moved several writ petitions
and special leave petitions earlier raising those contentions but had failed in
each one of them. It was submitted that the General Court Martial conducted
the proceedings in accordance with law and there was no breach of a statutory
provision or breach of principle of natural justice. The order of Wing
Commander S.L. Gupta was a lawful order and its disobedience by the F
respondent attracted the provisions of section 41 of the Act which made it an
offence punishable with a term of imprisonment which may extend to 14
years.

The High Court rejected the contention of the respondent that the order
passed by Wing Commander was an illegal order and that its disobedience G
did not amount to a disobedience of a lawful order for purposes of section
41 of the Act. Relying upon the judgment of this Court in Ranjit Thakur v.
Union of India, [ 1987) 4 SCC 611 it was held that the said order of Wing
Commander Gupta was not an illegal order and that order had been issued
bona fide and in public interest. H
1100 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 3 S.C.R.

A The High Court also rejected the contention of the respondent that the
orders directing him to appear before the Medical Board, as well as the trial
before the General Court Martial, were mala fide acts committed at the instance
of Air Marshal Dilbagh Singh. It noticed that it was sometime in the year
1976 that the respondent claimed to have exposed some mal practice which
B cast a reflection on Air Marshal Dilbagh Singh. The General Court Martial
proceedings were initiated in the year 1983. The submission, that the action
was malafide, was therefore, far fetched. Moreover Air Marshal Dilbagh
Singh against whom mala fide was alleged was not even a party in the writ
petition. The submission was, therefore, rejected.

C The High Court then proceeded to consider the submission urged before
it that an illegality had been committed in as much as the petitioner was
deprived of his fundamental right by not being permitted to be represented
by a counsel of his choice at State expense in the Court Martial proceedings.
The High Court observed in this regard that it is a fundamental right of an
Indian citizen to have assistance of a legal expert when he is to face a trial
D for an offence punishable with imprisonment, as his personal liberty is at
stake. If such ah accused was not in a position to engage an advocate at his
own cost, then it becomes the fundamental duty of the State to provide him '·
legal assistance at the cost of the State. Reliance was placed on the judgment
of this Court in Suk Das v. Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh, AIR
E (I 986) SC 991 to support the view that the accused has a fundamental right
under Article 2 I of the Constitution of India to obtain free legal service at
the cost of the State, if he is unable to engage the services of a lawyer on
account of poverty or indigence. The High Court noticed that in the instant
case as soon as the respondent was intimated about the constitution of General
Court Martial to try him he made an application to the President of India on
F May 2, 1983 bringing to his notice his inability to engage an advocate at his
own cost and requested that he may be provided funds for engaging an
advocate to defend him in the said General Court Martial. A copy of this
application was also given to the General Court Martial. Moreover, since the
respondent apprehended that the other subordinate officers may not be in a
G position to give him proper and necessary assistance in defending him on
account of their fear of Air Marshal Dilbagh Singh, his request to have an
advocate for defending him, in view of his apprehension, could not be said
to be unreasonable or improper.

The Union of India on the other hand contended that neither in the Air
H Force Rules nor in the Air Force Act is there has any provision to appoint
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA (B.P. SINGH. J.J 1101

a legal practitioner at State expense to defend the accused before a Court A
Martial and, therefore, such a request could not be granted. The Rules only
provide that an accused may be represented by any officer subject to Air
Force laws who shall be called the 'defending officer' or assisted by any
person whose services he may be able to procure who shall be called the
'friend of the accused'. The submission urged on behalf of the Union of India B
was rejected by the High Court on the reasoning that even if there was no
such provision in the Act or the Rules, the principles laid down by the
Supreme Court in the case of Suk Das (supra) were applicable and, therefore,
the respondent had a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution
of India to be represented by a legal practitioner. Article 21 commanded that
no person shall be deprived of his personal liberty except in accordance with C
the procedure established by law and, therefore, it followed that when a
person was to be prosecuted, he must be afforded sufficient opportunity to
defend himself and, consequently, he must be given legal aid. Failure to.
provide such legal aid vitiated the trial and in these circumstances the trial
was not proper and legal.
D
The learned Judge further observed that Rule I02 which provided for
an accused being represented by a defending officer or a friend of the accused
hardly satisfied the test of giving proper opportunity to the accused to defend
himself. The prosecution was conducted by a prosecutor before the General
Court Maitial and the Judge Advocate is appointed to assist the Court. The E
Judge Advocate is an officer belonging to the department of the Chief Legal
Adviser or an officer approved by the Chief Legal Adviser. The role of the
Judge Advocate is to explain to the Court the legal provisions in order to
assist the Court to come to the right conclusion. Thereafter the High Court
observed :-
F
" ....... In the instant case there was a prosecutor for the prosecution
and the Judge Advocate was also appointed. The Judge Advocate
always represents the Chief Legal Advisor in a Court Martial as per
the provisions of Section 111. Thus, the prosecution had the aid of
a prosecutor as well as a Judge Advocate whereas in the instant case
though the petitioner was insisting to have appointment of a Civil G
Advocate, the same was not appointed. No doubt initially a Defending
Officer was helping the petitioner but he had also withdrawn in the
midst of the trial. But merely because the petitioner was given the
assistance of the Defending Officer, it could not be said that the
petitioner and the prosecution were in equal position. In view of the H
1102 SUPREME COURT REPORTS 12003] 3 S.C.R.

A present (sic) of the prosecutor and the assistance of Judae Advocate
"'
the non-appointment of a Civil Advocate for the petitioner has put
'

the petitioner in an unequal position."

The High Court, therefore, held that the denial of petitioner's request
for being represented by an advocate resulted in miscarriage of justice,
B particularly in a case where the prosecution itself alleged that the accused
was suffering psychologically to some extent. Refusal of any legal aid from
a legal expect or a person having expertise in law to such an accused amounted
to miscarriage of justice. The High Court was of the view that the respondent
was handicapped in conducting his defence which was obvious from the fact
C that when he was required to cross-examine the witnesses he requested the
Court Martial to grant him time so that he could consult his advocate in this
regard. For the same reason the respondent could not explain to the Court
Martial the relevancy of the witnesses whom he wished to summon. He
apprehended that he may disclose his defence if he attempted to explain the
relevancy of the concerned witnesses and that would cause serious prejudice
D to him in the trial.

It was pointed out by the Union of India before the High Court that in
his application to the President of India, the respondent has asked for
appointment of the two advocates named therein. An accused cannot insist on
having an advocate of his choice to defend him at State expense. The High
E Court observed that even if an Advocate of his choice could not be given, the
State was bound to provide him legal assistance and this could be done if a
panel of advocates was prepared by the State and the respondent was called
upon to make his selection. The High Court, therefore, concluded that the
non-appointment of an advocate to defend the accused resulted in miscarriage
of justice and, therefore, the trial of the petitioner stood vitiated.
F
Another grievance of the respondent was that he had given two lists of
witnesses, the first consisting of 24 names and the second of 7 names. But
when he requested the General Court Martial to summon those witnesses the
Judge Advocate advised the General Court Martial that the respondent should
G be asked to explain the relevancy of those witnesses and accordingly the
respondent was called upon to disclose the relevancy of each witness and on
what point he wished to examine him. The High Court held that technically
as well as legally the direction of the Court Martial was proper and correct,
but the Court Martial ought not to have acted too technically since the
respondent was not in a position to state the relevancy of the witnesses
H without disclosing his defence and, therefore, apprehended that he while
-,..

lJ.0.1.v. EX.FLT.LT.G.S.!3A.IWA [B.P.SINGll.J.) 1103

attempting to disclose the relevancy of witnesses may disclose his defence to A
his prejudice.

The High Court noticed that the respondent, when called upon to explain
the relevancy of the witnesses, ~lated that he would write letters to the witnesses
who were out of Delhi. They were officers of the Indian Air Force, some of
them retired and some of them in service. Only after getting their replies, he B
could state their relevancy to the Court and also whether he wanted to examine
any of them. He sought an adjournment on June 3, 1983 and prayed that the
matter be adjourned till June 17, 1983. However, he was granted an
adjournment only for 4 days. The High Court observed that it failed to
understand how the General Court Martial expected that the respondent would C
be in a position to contact witnesses residing at Bombay, Bangalore etc. and
get their replies in 4 days. Thus by adjourning the hearing on June 3, 1983
to June 7, 1983 the General Court Martial denied reasonable opportunity to
the respondent to examine his defence witnesses.

The High Court then considered the complaint of the respondent that D
he was not supplied copies of the proceedings taking place every day despite
his repeated requests. The non supply of copies of evidence and proceedings
amounted to denial of reasonable opportunity to the accused to defend himself
and was also against the principles of natural justice. The High Comt accepting
the submission held that the denial of copies of the evidence and proceedings
recorded every day, to the petitioner also resulted in denying reasonable E
opportunity to him to defend.

Lastly the High Court considered the grievance of the respondent that
the prosecutor, the Judge Advocate and the members of the General Court
Martial met behind close doors and changed the recorded proceedings and
F
evidence after careful editing. Portions favourable to the respondent were
removed and the depositions were changed to suit the prosecution and the
>-·
original statements destroyed. The High Court examined portions of the typed
record. of proceedings produced by the petitioner and found that on the same
date some portion of the statement of the Judge Advocate as well as the
witnesses were typed on different typewriters. The High Court also noticed G
that the evidence of witnesses was recorded by the Comt in long hand and
it was not dictated directly to the typists and the statements were subsequently
typed by the typists. Even the signatures of the witnesses were not taken nor
did the signatures of the Court appear on those documents. The High Court,
thereafter concluded :-
H
1104 SUPREME COURT REPOllTS [2003) 3 S.C.R.

A " ....... Therefore, in these circumstances: the procedure followed by
the Court in conducting the trial in question is also not proper as the
original statements of the witnesses recorded by the Court in its own
hand in the open court are not preserved and when the petitioner is
alleging that there was tempering with the evidence recorded, it has
become very difficult for us to come to a conclusion that the allegations
B made by the petitioner are baseless or false in the absence of the
original record."

In view of these findings the High Court held that the trial of the
petitioner was vitiated and consequently the punishment awarded to him was
C set aside.

Shri Raju Ramachandran, learned Additional Solicitor General appearing
on behalf of the appellant-Union of India assailed the judgment of the High
Court and submitted that the finding recorded by the High Court that the
failure of the appellant to provide a counsel to the respondent at State expense
D resulted in breach of the fundamental right of the respondent guaranteed
under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, was recorded by the High Court
in ignorance of the provisions of Article 33 of the Constitution of India
which expressly empowers the Parliament to modify the rights conferred by
Part Ill of the Constitution in their application to the members of the armed
forces. The High Court was, therefore, in error in not considering the provisions
E of the Act, as a law made by Parliament under Article 33 of the Constitution
of India modifying and restricting the right conferred by Article 21 of the
Constitution of India. In a Court Martial trial the appellant was not required
to provide a counsel at State expense to the respondent, whose rights were
governed by the provisions of the Act and the Rules. They provided that the
F appellant may be represented by an officer called "the defending officer" or
assisted by any person whose services he may be able to procure who shall
be called "the friend of the accused" . The respondent was in fact permitted

G
to engage a counsel at his own expense but he failed to do so. Even the friend
of the accused, had to withdraw at the request of the respondent. The
respondent cannot be, therefore, heard to say that prejudice was caused to
him on account of non-compliance of any of the provisions of the Act or the
--
Rules. He further submitted that in recording a finding that the respondent
and the prosecution were not equally placed in the proceedings before the
Court' Martial, the High Court completely misunderstood the duties of the
Judge Advocate and the role played by him in proceeding before the Court
H Martial. He also assailed the other findings recorded by the High Court.
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA jB.P. SINGH . .I.] 1105

Learned counsel appearing on beha~f of the respondent submitted that A
the findings recorded by the H_igh Court are unassailable and he urged further
grounds, which were not urged before the High Court, to support the
conclusion reached by the High Court .
..
'•
It is indeed surprising that while considering the submissions urged on
behalf of the respondent alleging the breach of his fundamental right under B
Article 21 of the Constitution of India, the High Court neither noticed the
provisions of Article 33 of the Constitution of India nor does it appear to
have been brought to its notice. Article 33 of the Constitution of India expressly
empowers the Parliament to determine by law the extent to which any of the
rights conferred by Part Ill of the Constitution, in their application, inter alia, C
to the members of the armed forces, shall be restricted or abrogated to ensure
the proper discharge of their duties and the maintenance of discipline among
them. The Parliament can, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by
Article 33 of the Constitution of India restrict or abrogate the fundamental
rights guaranteed under Part Ill of the Constitution in their application to th.e
members of the armed forces. 11, therefore, follows that if any provision of D
the Act or the Rules restricts or abrogates any right guaranteed under Part 111
of the Constitution of India, it cannot be challenged on the ground that it is
violative of the fundamental right as guaranteed under Part Ill. It is no doubt
true that the restriction or abrogation is dependent on Parliamentary legislation
and only a law passed by virtue of Article 33 can override Articles 21 and E
22 of the Constitution of India. The law on the subject is fairly well settled
and we may only refer to some of the authorities on the subject. In Ram
Sarup v. Union of India and Anr., AIR ( 1965) SC 247 a Constitution Bench
of this Court upholding the submission urged by the Learned Attorney General
observed :-
F
"The learned Attorney General has urged that the entire Act has been
enacted by Parliament and if any of the provisions of the Act is not
consistent with the provisions of any of the articles in Part Ill of the
Constitution, it must be taken that to the extent of the inconsistency
Parliament had modified the fundamental rights under those articles
in their application to the person subject to that Act. Any such G
provision in the Act is as much law as the entire Act. We agree that
each and every provision of the Act is a law made by Parliament and
that if any such provision tends to affect the fundamental right under
Part Ill of the Constitution, that provision does not, on that account,
become void, as it must be taken that Parliament has thereby, in the H
1106 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 3 S.C.R.

A exercise of its power under Art. 33 of the Constitution, made the
requisite modification to affect the respective fundamental right. We
are however of opinion that the provisions of S. 125 of the Act are
not discriminatory and do not infringe the provisions of Art. 14 of the
Constitution. It is not disputed that the persons to whom the provisions
of S. 125 apply do form a distinct class. They apply to all those
B persons who are subject to Act and such persons are specified in S.
2 of the Act."

In Lt. Col. Prithi Pal Singh Bedi v. Union of India and Ors., [ 1982) 3
SCC 140 this Court observed :-

C "Article 33 confers power on the Parliament to determine to what
extent any of the rights conferred by Part Ill shall, in their application
to the members of the Armed Forces, be restricted or abrogated so as
to ensure the proper discharge of duties and maintenance of discipline
amongst them. Article 33 does not obligate that Parliament must
D specifically adumbrate each fundamental right enshrined in Part Ill
and to specify in the law enacted in exercise of the power conferred
by Article 33 the degree of restriction or total abrogation of each
right. That would be reading into Article 33 a requirement which it
does not enjoin. In fact, after the Constitution came into force, the
power to legislate in respect of any item must be referable to an entry
E in the relevant list. Entry 2 in List I : Naval, Military and Air Forces;
any other Armed Forces of the Union, would enable Parliament to
enact the Army Act and armed with this power the Act was enacted
in July 1950. It has to be enacted by the Parliament subject to the
requirements of Part Ill of the Constitution read with Article 33 which
F itself forms part of Part 111. Therefore, every provision of the Army
Act enacted by the Parliament, if in conflict with the fundamental
rights conferred by Part Ill, shall have to be read subject to Article
33 as being enacted with a view to either restricting or abrogating
other fundamental rights to the extent of inconsistency or repugnancy
between Part Ill of the Constitution and the Army Act".
G
This Court referred to the observations in Ram Sarup (supra) and held
that the question was no longer res integra in view of the decision of the
Constitution Bench. The Court, therefore, rejected the submission that the
law which prescribed procedure for trial of offences by Court Martial must
satisfy the requirement of Article 21 because to the extent the procedure is
H prescribed by law and if it stands in derogation of Article 21, to that extent
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA [B.P. SINGH. J.] J 107

Article 21 in its application to the armed forced is modified by enactment of A
the procedure in the Army Act itself. The Court noticed that there operate
two conflicting public interests; the maintaining of discipline in the Armed
Forces to safeguard national security, to ensure enjoyment by the people of
India of their fundamental rights, and the right of members of Armed Forces
themselves to fundamental rights.
B
In Delhi Police Non-Gazetted Karmachari Sangh and Ors. v. Union of
India and Ors., [ 1987] 1 SCC 115 the challenge to the Act and the Rules
impugned therein was on the ground of infringement of fundamental right
guaranteed under A11icle 19(l)(c) read with Article 19(4) of the Constitution
of India. It was argued in that case that recognition of the Association carries C
with it the right to continue the Association as such. It is a right flowing from
the fact of recognition. To derecognise the association. in effect offends against
the freedom of association. This Court held :-

"That the Sangh and its members come within the ambit of Article 33
cannot be disputed. The provisions of the Act and Rules taking away D
or abridging the freedom of association have been made strictly in
conformity with Artie.le 33. The right under Article 19(l)(c) is not
absolute. Article 19(4) specifically empowers the State to make any
law to fetter, abridge or abrogate any of the rights under Article
19( 1)( c) in the interest of public order and other considerations. Thus
the attack against the Act and Rules can be successfully met with E
reference to these two articles as members of the police force, like the
appellants herein, are at a less advantageous position, curtailment of
whose rights under Article 19(J)(c) comes squarely within Article 33
. in the interest of discipline and public order."

Having regard to the authorities it must be held that the provisions of F
the Act cannot be challenged on the ground that they infringe the fundamental
right guaranteed to the respondent under Article 21 of the Constitution of
India. Since the Air Force Act is a law duly enacted by Parliament in exercise
of its plenary legislative jurisdiction read with 33 of the Constitution of India,
the same cannot be held to be invalid merely because it has the effect of G
restricting or ab.rogating the right guaranteed under Article 21 of the
Constitution of India or for that reason under any of the provisions of Chapter
III of the Constitution.

It was not disputed before the High Court, nor was it disputed before
us, that the Act and the Rules framed thereunder do not oblige the State/ H
1108 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 3 S.C.R.

A Union of India to engage at the cost of the State a counsel for the officer who
faces his trial before the Cou1t Martial. The High Court relying on the judgment
of this Court in Suk Das v.Union Territory of Arzmachal Pradesh (supra)
held that the respondent had a fundamental right under Article 21 of the
Constitution of India to obtain free legal service at the cost of the State if he
B was unable to engage the services of a lawyer on account of poverty or
indigence. It clearly erred in applying the principles laid down in that case.
That was not a case dealing with a member of the armed forces governed by
a law enacted by Parliament, which restricted or abrogated the right with a
view to ensure the proper discharge of duties and the maintenance of discipline
among members of the armed forces, and which the Parliament was authorized
C to enact by virtue of Article 33 of the Constitution.

We also fail to understand how the respondent can claim that he was
unable to engage the services ofa counsel on account of poverty or indigence.
The respondent was an officer of the Indian Air Force and was holding the
rank of Flight Lieutenant. He had served the Indian Air Force for many
D years. The mere fact that he wrote to the President of India stating that he
was not in a position to engage an Advocate at his own cost, was not sufficient
to hold that he was unable to do so on account of poverty or indigence. In
any event, there being no provision under the Act or the Rules to provide a
defence counsel at a State expense, the respondent could not claim such a
E right de hors the Act and the Rules on the ground of Article 21 of the
Constitution of India which stood restricted by the Act.

We may notice at this stage that it is not as if the respondent was not
permitted to engage a counsel at his own expense. The Court Ma1tial permitted
him to engage a counsel at his own expense. After seeking several
F adjournments on this ground, the respondent ultimately informed the Court
Martial that he was not in a position to engage counsel at his own expense.
In view of these facts the respondent cannot place any reliance on the judgment
of this Comt in Major General lnder Jit Kumar v. Union of India and Ors.,
[ 1997] 9 SCC I. In that case, as was submitted by the respondent, time was
given to the appellant to engage a defence counsel. In the instant case, as we
G have observed earlier, the respondent was also given such an opportunity but
he did not engage a defence counsel of his choice at his own expense.
Moreover in Major General Inder Jit Kumar (supra) the Court was not Ci\ lied
upon to consider the claim of the appellant therein to be represented by a
counsel of his choice at State expense. In fact the respondent has no such
H right under the Act. The respondent does not even have a right to claim an
U.0.1. i·. EX.FLT.LT. G.S. BAJWA [B.P. SINGH ..I.) 1109

advance from the State for engaging a counsel at his own expense. In Union A
of India and Ors. v. Major A. Hussain., [1998) l SCC 537 a grievance was
made before this Court by the respondent therein that since further advance
of Rs.15,000 was not given to him to engage another defence counsel he
could not effectively defend his case. Repelling the argument this Court
observed :-
B
"The High Court, however, failed to take notice of the fact that the
respondent was not entitled to any advance for the purpose of engaging
the defence counsel and earlier as a special case an advance of
Rs. I0,000 had been sanctioned. No Rule or Army Instruction has
been shown under which the respondent was entitled to an advance". C
It is futile for the respondent to rely upon the decision in Board of
Trustees of the Port of Bombay v. Dilipkumar Raghavendranath Nadkarni
and Ors., [ 1983) I SCC 124 and JK. Aggarwal v. Haryana Seeds Development
Corporation Ltd. and Ors.. [1991] 2 SCC 283 as the principles laid down
therein are not applicable to the case of the respondent. The employees D
concerned in those cases were not governed by any law made by the Parliament
and referable to exercise of legislative authority under Article 33 of the
Constitution of India. This apart, in those cases this Court upheld the right
of the employees to be represented by a legal expert or a lawyer only in those
cases where the employer was represented by a legally trained person. In the
instant case, therefore, the principle laid down therein has no application. E
So far as the facts of this case are concerned it is clear from the record
that the respondent was informed that he was not entitled to a civil defence
counsel of his choice at State expense but he was given the option of engaging
a civil counsel of his choice under own arrangement and at his own expense.
He was also informed that he could give the name of any service officer F
whom he wished to have as his defending officer and whose services will be
made available to him free of cost. Upon a written request of the respondent
the services ofSqn. Leader V.K. Sawhney, an officer with legal qualifications
having substantial experience as a defending officer in trial by Court Martial
was made available to him as "the friend of the accused" by the convening G
authority. The respondent was also advised that he could accept the services
of the said officer as his defending officer, if he so desired. lnspite of the
options given to the respondent and inspite of several adjournments, the
respondent did not engage a counsel at his own expense. When the defence
case commenced, die respondent dispensed with the services of the "friend
of the accused", whose services he had asked for in writing. H
1110 SUPREME COURT REPORTS !2003] 3 S.C.R.

A We are, therefore, satisfied in the facts and circumstances of the case
that the provisions of the Act and the Rules were scrupulously followed in
the conduct of the Court Martial proceedings and the respondent chose to
defend himself without seeking the help of the defending officer or the friend
of the accused. It, therefore, does not lie in his mouth to complain that he was
B prejudiced in his defence on account of the State not providing him defence
counsel at State expense. The finding recorded by the High Court is, therefore,
wholly unsustainable.

The High Court then considered the provisions of Rule I02 of the
Rules and held that merely providing for the accused being represented by
C the defending officer or friend of the accused hardly satisfied the test of
giving proper opportunity to the accused to defend himself. According to the
High Court the prosecution was assisted by a prosecutor and the Judge
Advocate whereas the respondent was insisting for engagement of an advocate
at State expense, which was not granted. No doubt a defending officer had
been given to the petitioner but he had also withdrawn in the midst of the
D trial. It cannot, therefore, be said that the petitioner and the prosecutor were
in equal position.

The High Court erroneously referred to the respondent being assisted
by a defending officer when in fact he was being assisted by a "friend of the
accused", who was nominated at his own request. As noticed earlier, it was
E the respondent who dispensed with the assistance of the friend of the accused
and, therefore, he cannot make a grievance of it. But the approach of the
High Court belies a complete misconception of the functions and duties of
the Judge Advocate and the role played by him in a Court Martial proceeding.
The High Court proceeded on the assumption that the Judge Advocate, who
F represents the Chief Legal Adviser in Cou11 Martial proceedings, is there to
assist the prosecution and he alongwith the prosecutor constitute a team
against which is pitted the hapless accused in the trial. In doing so the High
Court completely misdirected itself and laboured under a complete mis-
apprehension of the duties and the role of the Judge Advocate.

G Under Rule 110 of the Air Force Rules, 1969 an officer. who is
disqualified for sitting as a Com1 Mai1ial, shall be disqualified for acting as
Judge Advocate at that Court Martial. This rule ensures that the Judge Advocate
also enjoys the same impartiality as the President and Members of the Court
Martial. The powers and duties of the Judge Advocate have been .laid down
in Rule 111 which provides that the prosecutor or the accused, is at all times,
H entitled to his opinion on any question of law relative to the charge or trial,
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT.LT. Ci.S. BAJWA fB.P. SINGH. J.] 1111

whether he is or out of court, subject, when he is in court to the permission A
of the court. He is responsible for informing the cou11 of any informality or
irregularity in the proceedings. Whether consulted or not, he shall inform the
convening officer and the court of any informality in the proceedings or
defect in the charge, or in the constitution of the court, and shall give his
advice on any matter before the court. At the conclusion of the case he shall, B
unless both he and the court consider it unnecessary, sum up the evidence
and give his opinion upon the legal bearing of the case before the court
proceeds to deliberate upon its. finding. The Judge Advocate has, equally
with the Presiding Officer, the duty of taking care that the accused does not
suffer any disadvantage in consequence of his position as such or of his
ignorance or incapacity to examine or cross-examine witnesses or otherwise, C
an.d may, for that purpose, with the permission of the court, call witnesses
and put questions to witnesses, which appear to him necessary or desirable
to elicit the truth. In fulfilling his duties, the Judge Advocate must be careful
to maintain an entirely impartial position. Rule 111, therefore, which lays
down the powers and duties of the Judge Advocate leaves no room for doubt
that though a participant in the proceeding, he is not partisan. He holds a D
brief neither for the prosecutor nor for the defence. He must guide the Court
Martial when questions of Jaw arise and render his honest opinion regardless
of the consideration whether it helps the prosecution or the defence. He is
neither a friend of the prosecutor nor an adversary of the defence. He has to
maintain an entirely impartial position charged with the duty of taking care E
that the accused does not suffer any disadvantage in consequence of his
position as such. The Judge Advocate performs a solemn obligation to advise
honestly and to guide dispassionately the Court Martial with the objective to
ensure a fair trial and justice according to Jaw. The duties with which he is
charged and the impartiality expected of him must assure the person being
tried that he shall not suffer any disadvantage on account of his position as F
such and that whenever necessary intervention by Judge Advocate shall ensure
even handed justice. We, therefore, do not agree with the conclusion reached
by the High Cou11 that the procedural safeguards under the Act do not provide
a level playing field and that the dice is heavily loaded against the accused
in a trial before the Court Martial. We cannot Jose sight of the fact that even G
the Judge Advocate is administered an oath/affirmation before he enters upon
his office. He is bound by his oath to carry out the duties of his office in
accordance with the Act and the Rules with<,ut partiality, favour or affection
and not on any account, at any time, whatsoever, disclose or discover the
vote or opinion on any matter of any particular member of the Court Mai1ial,
unless required to give evidence thereof by a court of justice or a Court H
1112 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003) 3 S.C.R.

A Martial in due course of law. The impartiality of the Judge Advocate, is thus,
ensured and it can never be contended that in the scheme of the Act and the
Rules the role of the Judge Advocate is only to assist the prosecutor to secure
the conviction of the accused.

The next finding of the High Court is with regard to the approach
B adopted by the Court Martial in regard to the relevancy of witnesses, which
the respondent was called upon to disclose. The High Court itself found that
there was nothing wrong in the Court calling upon the respondent to disclose
the relevancy of each witness and the point on which the respondent wished
to examine him. The High Court, however, went on to observe that the Court
C ought not to have acted too technically since the respondent was not in a
position to state the relevancy of the witnesses without jeopardizing his
defence. The reason given by the High Court does not impress us. If the
direction of the Court Martial was in accordance with law, there could be no
justification to hold that obedience of law itself resulted in prejudice to the
respondent. In our view, in the facts and circumstances of the case, the Court
D Martial was fully justified in calling upon the respondent to satisfy the Court
that it was necessary to examine those witnesses in the trial. We say so
because a large number of witnesses were sought to be examined. Many of
them were Air Force officers, which included some former Chief of the Air
Staff as also the Chief of the Air Staff. One fails to understand what possibly
E could be the relevancy of these witnesses when the charge against the
respondent was that he had disobeyed the order of his superior officer by not
complying with the direction to submit himself to a medical examination by
the Board. To µs it appears that the request was not even bona fide and was
a mere delaying tactics. This apprehension appears to be justified in view of
the fact that the respondent asked for adjournment of the case by 14 days.
F The purpose for which adjournment was sought was that he would be writing
to the witnesses concerned and only after getting their response he would
decide whether to examine them before the Court Martial as his witnesses.
This depicts the peculiar approach of the respondent. He prayed for an
adjournment not on the ground that there was some difficulty in producing
G these witnesses on a particular day, but on the ground that he had not
communicated with them and only after communicating with them and getting
their response, he would be in a position to tell the Court whether he wou Id
examine them and if so, which of them, as his witnesses. On such a ground,
the Court Martial would have been justified in rejecting the prayer but the
Court Martial granted him 4 days time and accordingly adjourned the
H proceedings at his request. The High Court has found fault with the Court
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA [B.P. SINGH. J.I 1113

Martial in not giving to the respondent sufficient time to get replies from the A
witnesses. It has gone to the extent of holding that the Court Martial denied
reasonable opportunity to the respondent to examine his defence witnesses.
We are of the view that this finding is wholly unsustainable.

In the first instance Rule 89 of !he Rules provides that when a court is
once assembled and the accused had been arraigned, the court shall, subject B
to the provisions of Rule 88, continue the trial from day to day unless it
appears to the court that an adjournment is necessary for the ends of justice,
or that such continuance is impracticable. The normal rule, therefore, is that
the trial must continue from day to day and this is with a view to expeditious
disposal of the matter before the Court Martial. Unfortunately the practice of C
seeking unnecessary adjournments has become rampant with the resultant
delay in disposal of matters before adjudicatory authorities and the courts.
This practice has been deprecated by this Court. In Union of India v. Major
A. Hussain (supra), this Court observed :-

"Proceedings of a court-martial are not to be compared with the D
proceedings in a criminal court under the Code of Criminal Procedure
where adjournments have become a matter of routine though that is
also against the provisions of law."

We, therefore, hold that no illegality was committed either in calling
upon the respondent to explain the relevancy of the witnesses or in refusing E
a long adjournment, on the request of the respondent.

In the facts and circumstances of the case the grievance of the respondent
that he was denied reasonable opportunity to examine his defence witnesses
is base less.
F
The next grievance of the respondent which found favour with the
High Court is that he was not supplied copies of the proceedings every day,
though he had repeatedly asked for the same. The appellant pointed out that
neither under the Air Force Act, 1950 nor the Air Force Rules, 1969 is there
any provision for supply of copies of the evidence and the proceedings every G
day. But there is a provision which permits the charged officer to inspect the
record of proceedings. Therefore, the request for supply of copies every day
was not tenable. The High Court held that merely because there are no
provisions in the Act and the Rules to supply copies, the Court cannot deny
the copies of evidence and the record of proceedings to the accused and such
denial amounts to denial of reasonable oppo11unity to defend himself, as it H
1114 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003) 3 S.C.R.

A was in violation of the principles of natural justice.
Rule 125 of the of the Air Force Rules, 1969 provides as follows :-

"125. Right of person tried to copies of proceedings. - Every person
tried by a court martial shall be entitled on demand, at any time after
B the confinnation of the finding and sentence and before the proceedings
are destroyed, to obtain free of cost from the officer or person having
the custody of the proceedings, a copy thereof, including the
proceedings upon revision, if any."
Rule I00 is as follows :-
c "100. Custody and inspection of proceedings. The proceedings shall
be deemed to be in the custody of the judge advocate (if any), or, if
there is none, of the presiding officer, but may, with proper precaution
for their safety, be inspected by the members of the court, the
prosecutor and accused, respectively, at all reasonable times before
D the court is closed, to consider the finding."
It will thus be seen that there is a specific provision in the Rules which
provides for copies of the proceedings to the person tried by the Court Martial
free of cost at any time after the confirmation of the finding and sentence and
before the proceedings are destroyed. Clearly, therefore, the respondent was
E not entitled to a copy of the proceedings day to day as claimed by him.
However, Rule 100 in terms provides that the proceedings may be inspected
by the accused at all reasonable times before the court is closed to consider
the finding. Nothing, therefore, prevented the respondent from inspecting the
proceedings and preparing his defence. Rule 100 itself incorporates the
principle of natural justice by giving to the respondent an opportunity to go
F through the proceedings and for this purpose to inspect the same at all
reasonable times. This meets the requirement of principles of natural justice
and the respondent cannot complain on the ground that he was not given a
copy of the proceedings day to day. The High Court was, therefore, clearly
wrong in coming to the conclusion that the principles of natural justice were
G violated by non supply of copies of proceedings day to day.

The next allegation of the respondent which was considered by the
High Court was to the effect that the Judge Advocate, the Prosecutor and the
Court Martial were meeting in closed chamber and then the original depositions
were being changed to favour the prosecution and after removing portions
H favourable to the respondent, the statements of witnesses were being re-typed
ll.0.1. v. EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA IB.P. SINGH.J.] 1115

and original statements were destroyed. The High Court observed that the A
Court was recording the proceedings in long hand and thereafter it was being
typed. Some pages of such typed record showed that some portions of the
submissions of the Judge Advocate as well as the witnesses were typed on
different typewriters. From this the High Court jumped to the conclusion that
the procedure followed by the Court in conducting the trial was not proper B
as the original statements of. the witnesses recorded by the Court in its own
hand in the open Court were not preserved and the respondent's allegation
that records were tampered with could not be said to be baseless or false. The
respondent relied upon an affidavit filed before the High Court by one Shri
H.S. Siddhu who attended the Court Martial proceeding and stated that once
he visited the room next to the Court Martial Room and he found typists C
typing Court Martial records. He found that the proceedings made by the
Judge Advocate in manuscript were being typed by one of the typists. The
said manuscript had several amendments made in red ink and even a whole
para had been redrafted. Thereafter the respondent had requested the Court
Martial to obtain his signatures on each and every page of the manuscript
proceedings on each day and to give him a copy of the proceedings at the end D
of the day but that request was refused. The respondent has not filed any
affidavit of his own but has chosen to file an affidavit of a former officer,
which also does not clearly establish that the records were being tampered
with. Obviously when the Judge Advocate records proceedings in long hand,
the same has to be given a final shape before it becomes a part of the record. E
That cannot be said to be tampering with the record. Moreover the mere fact
that copies of the proceedings were typed on two different typewriters does
not necessarily lead to the conclusion that the evidence was changed or the
record was tampered. Very often, with a view to quick disposal of work, the
material to be typed may be distributed to more than one typist. We, therefore,
find no force in the submission that the members of the Court Martial, the F
Judge Advocate and the Prosecutor tampered the record of proceedings with
a view to prejudice the case of the respondent. No specific instance was
pointed out to us to substantiate this charge.

We shall now take up for consideration the submissions urged before G
us, which were not urged before the High Court.

It was submitted that the power to convene a Court Martial cannot be
delegated. In the instant case it was contended by the learned counsel for the
respondent that the order convening the Cou11 Martial was signed by Air Cdr.
D.S. Sabhikhi on behalf of the Air Marshal. The heading of the document H
1116 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] 3 S.C.R.

A which is Annexure-R is as follows :-
"Orders by Air Marshal D.A. Lafotaine, AVSM, VM, Air Officer In-
charge Personnel, Air Headquarters, IAF."

A ground was taken before the High"t:ourt (ground f) that the convening
B of the General Court Martial was signed by an officer, in whose name no
delegation or such authority had ever been made. In reply thereto the appellant
had submitted that the convening order was signed by the said officer on
behalf of the Air Officer Incharge Personnel, who had after due application
of mind, issued the order for convening the above Court Martial. It was not
disputed before us that the Air Officer lncharge Personnel (AOP) was
C empowered to convene a Court Martial. The only question which, therefore,
requires consideration is whether the order convening the General Court
Martial was passed by the AOP and it was only formally communicated
under signatures of Air Cdr. concerned or whether the Air Cdr. named therein,
who was not empowered, himself passed the convening order. With a view
D to avoid any controversy on this factual position, we directed the appellant
to produce before us the original file. We have perused the file and we find
that the order for convening the General Court Martial was approved by Air
Marshal D.A. Lafotaine, AOP. There is, therefore, no force in the submission
that the convening order was unauthorized and, therefore, illegal.

E The next submission urged before us, which does not appear to have
been urged before the High Court, was that the order given by Wing
Commander S.L. Gupta on June 18, 1982 was itself illegal and, therefore, the
respondent was not bound to obey that order. It was argued before us that
there was an undertaking by the appellant before this Court with regard to the
F stay of medical board proceedings, which was due on Ist May, 1980. No
such recorded undertaking has been brought to our notice and it is sought to
be argued on the basis of the counter-affidavit filed in the instant proceedings
before the High Court that even the appellant understood that an oral
undertaking had been given to the Court not to hold a medical board till
1.5.1980. It is not possible for us to accept the ipse dixit of the respondent
G that there was an oral undertaking given to this Court. All unde1takings given
to this Court are recorded and even when an oral understanding is reached,
one would find some reference to it in the proceedings of the Court. In the
absence of any such material on record the contention of the respondent that
the appellant was bound by the oral undertaking not to proceed with the
medical board must be rejected. In any event even if it is accepted, that an
H oral unde1t:iking was given, it was only to the effect that no medical board
U.0.1. v. EX.FLT. LT. G.S. BAJWA (B.P. SINGIU.] 1117

will be held till I st May, 1980. There is no undertaking given thereafter. The A
order of Wing Commander Gupta was issued on 18th June, 1982, more than
two years later.

It was urged before us for the first time that the prayer made by the
respondent on 7th June, 1983 for examining himself as a defence witness was
refused. The respondent contends that the said prayer was recorded in the B
proceedings. However, no proceeding was brought to our notice wherein it
was recorded that the respondent shall not be allowed to examine as a defence
witness. On the contrary, it appears from the extract of proceedings of the
Court Martial, referred to by the appellant in its counter-affidavit, that at
page 180 of the proceedings the following was recorded :- C
"The court also decides to inform the accused that since he has not
brought out any fresh points in his submission and rejoinder, the
court decides to proceed further in the interest of justice.

The court is opened and the above decision is announced to the D
accused in open court. On being asked the accused confirms that he
has no witnesses to examine in his defence. The court informs the
accused that since he has no witnesses to examine, the defence case
may be treated as closed. The accused confirms that he does not wish
to examine any witness in his defence and that the defence case is
closed". ' E
In these circumstances the submission that the respondent was not
permitted to examine himself as a defence witness must be rejected.

In the result this appeal is allowed, the impugned judgment and order
of the High Court of Delhi dated August 3, 1995 is set aside and the Writ p
Petition being C.W.P. No.245 of 1986 dismissed. There shall be no order as
to costs.

S.K.S. Appeals allowed.