Chandigarh, April 11
The Army today began its first-ever general court martial (GCM) to try a woman officer on charges of professional impropriety. The day’s proceedings were marked with the defence alleging that the GCM’s convening order was tampered with, thereby making the assembly of the court illegal.

The accused officer, Major Dimple Singla who served with the Judge Advocate General’s Department, the Army’s legal wing before being released on March 7 on completion of 10 years’ service, faces three charges under various provisions of the Army Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

On assembly of the court, presided by Col Jose Sanjeev, the defence counsel, Col S K Aggarwal (retd) contended that after the convening order was issued by the General Officer Commanding, 2 Corps, Lt-Gen V K Singh, the first page of the document was changed.

He maintained since the court had assembled on the basis of a tampered document, it lacked the jurisdiction to try the accused. Terming it to be a serious matter, he said it required due consideration by the court.

The defence also requested the court to issue directions to the prosecution to make available certified copies of the court of inquiry (CoI) proceedings and the record of the hearing of charge, which have not been supplied to the defence despite repeated requests.

Though the Army has taken administrative action against several women officers, resulting in award of censure or reprimand, Dimple Singla is the first Army officer to face court martial proceedings since women were inducted in the services in 1993. Two Air Force women officers, Flt Lt Anjali Gupta and Sqn Ldr Priya Jairaj, a doctor, have been tried by court martial for professional impropriety.

According to the charge sheet, Dimple Singla had allegedly obtained Rs 10,000 from the defence counsel of Swr Rajeev Malik of an armoured regiment, when she was the judge advocate at his trial. She is also alleged to have improperly and without authority taken active steps to negotiate engagement of a counsel for a NCO who was being tried by a court martial, besides asking the NCO’s defending officer, Capt Kumud Maini not to divulge any information relating to the trial to anyone.

The matter came to light when a complaint was lodged against her. The Army had ordered a CoI into the matter. The CoI, presided by Brig R. Chauhan from Headquarters Western Command, had held her blameworthy and she was thereafter attached to an Engineer Brigade for further proceedings.

Based upon the summary of evidence thereafter recorded in the case, the JAG Branch at Western Command had recommended administrative action against the officer. Sources said Army Headquarters, on the other hand, was of the view that she be tried by a court martial.

The prosecution requested the court to adjourn till April 13 to enable it to get in touch with the convening authority for verifying the contentions of the defence and preparing its reply. The court allowed this request.