New Delhi, January 24

The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the dismissal of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash from the Army for his alleged role in the Sukna land scam, holding that punishment was disproportionate to one minor charge being proved against him.

Setting aside the dismissal of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash and its upholding by the Armed Forces Tribunal, the Bench of Justice AK Sikri, Justices S Abdul Nazeer and MR Shah directed that he be paid all the retrial and pension benefits from the date of retirement.

The court gave the Army three months to clear all dues of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash. Setting aside the AFT’s decision, Justice Sikri described as its order “contradictory”, saying as on the one hand the tribunal upheld the decision of dismissal, but at the same time awarded the grant of pension from the date of its order. Holding that dismissal of Avadesh Prakash on the basis of his found guilty of a minor charge was “disproportionate”, Justice Sikri said it could not be used to erase the unblemished record of his 39-year service. — IANS