- By Raju Kumar
- Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:41 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Honour Of Soldier Restored After 32 Years As SC Revokes Illegal Termination Of Ex-IAF Official; What The In a dramatic turn of events, an Indian Air Force official's termination has been cancelled after being fired 32-years ago. Ex-squadron leader R Sood won a legal battle after over three decades as the Supreme Court on Wednesday revoked the order of wrongful termination from service. The top cout restored his honours in a case regarding the alleged use of criminal force against a junior fellow.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and K V Viswanathan found that disproportionate punishment was given to ex-squadron leader R Sood on September 22, 1993 while his commanding officer, a wing commander rank officer whose order Sood followed, was let off leniently.
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Ex-Official Will Be Given All Consequential Service Benefits
The bench said that since Sood, having since crossed the age of superannuation, cannot be reinstated in service but in law, was entitled to claim all consequential service benefits which would have accrued to him, had he not been fastened with such illegal order of dismissal.
"Appellant could not work beyond September 22, 1993 admittedly because of the illegal order of termination and not owing to any fault on his part," the bench noted and directed that arrears of salary and allowances to the extent of 50 per cent from September 23, 1993 till the scheduled date of his retirement from service be given alongwith notional promotion, for which the appellant's case may be placed before the Review Departmental Promotion Committee according to the governing rules for consideration. It said pensionary benefits and other benefits should be given to him with interest.
Finding fault with the order of termination of service, the bench said Sood's superior officer was visited with the penalty of "severe displeasure for three years" whereas he was ordered to be dismissed from service.
Sood Was Discharged By Criminal Court
The top court also said that when the Indian Air Force (IAF) has elected to have the alleged offence tried by the criminal court (from where Sood was discharged for lack of material), it is clear that they then cannot fall back on either a court martial or any disciplinary action.
What Was The Case?
In 1987, at the time when Sood was posted as 'Senior Operation Officer' in a remote village in the Thar desert and stationed in a building belonging to the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF). A driver employed with GREF, in an inebriated state, caused damage to the radar, an instrument of critical operational importance in desert conditions, and committed certain other acts of misconduct.
On the night of March 29, 1987, Sood along with four others, took the driver away from the camp in a jeep and left him at a secluded location approximately five kilometres from the nearest Border Security Force (BSF) post and about 30 kilometres from the IAF camp.
A missing report was lodged with the civil police on March 31, 1987, and on April 2, 1987, the mortal remains of the driver were recovered from the same location.
(With PTI Inputs)