SangsLegal News In instances where charges are not confirmed during court-martial proceedings, it is still possible to independently initiate proceedings against erring officials: Rajasthan High Court

The Rajasthan High Court has recently ruled that in cases where the Confirming Authority does not endorse the findings on a particular charge following General Court-Martial (GCM) proceedings, the Chief of Army Staff and other officers possess the authority to take independent action against the personnel at fault to terminate their services.The court noted that the concerned authorities can utilize Section 20 of the Army Act, 1950 in conjunction with Rule 17 of the Army Rules, 1954 to issue a show cause notice to erring personnel before their services are terminated. This can be done even if the individual in question has already undergone court-martial proceedings.