Armed Forces Tribunal rules that promotion was illegally denied to Maj Gen in 1997, slams the establishment, orders promotion to rank of Lt Gen

In a sombre case of justice delayed but ultimately not denied, the Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) in a landmark decision has directed the Government to promote a senior officer, Major General MMR Narang, to the rank of Lieutenant General with all consequential benefits, 21 years after he retired from service.

Maj Gen Narang, an officer of the Corps of Engineers, was approved for the next rank of Lt Gen but was made to retire in January 1997 as Major General on the pretext that there was no vacancy available in the rank of Lt Gen. The officer, belonging to the Corps of Engineers, had then filed a petition in the High Court in 1997, which was later transferred to AFT.

On meticulous perusal of the documents and case file, the AFT has also come to the conclusion that a false affidavit was submitted by the Government to the Court with regard to the vacant positions in the rank of Lt Gen.

A detailed report can be accessed here, from The Tribune.