Head of Military Nursing moves HC against Army

‘‘Discrimination, disparagement, derision, dishonour and humiliation’’. These are words not readily associated with the ...

‘‘Discrimination, disparagement, derision, dishonour and humiliation’’. These are words not readily associated with the Army but they appear in the high court writ petition filed by Maj Gen Usha Sikdar, head of the Army Military Nursing Service (MNS), against the Army five days ago.

And on March 11, a double bench issued notices to the respondents and asked for copies of the rules under which an April 30, 2004, letter from the Army was issued. The next date of hearing is tomorrow.

On April 30, 2004, Sikdar was unceremoniously relieved of her right to display stars and a flag on her official car, after the Army issued a letter saying MNS officers were not true Army officers, as was generally accepted previously, but officers under the Nursing Service.

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In the covering letter to her petition, Sikdar’s lawyers said the Army letter looked to ‘‘illegally and arbitrarily’’ dilute her status as an officer. The Army offered no comment, saying the matter was in court.

In the Army’s letter, Deputy DG (Ceremonials) Brig Brijendra Singh said: ‘‘The Indian Military Nursing officers are not covered under the definition of ‘officer’ as given in AA3 (XVIII) Army Act, 1950. The MNS was raised vide Indian Military Nursing Ordinance, 1943, in that MNS officers are appointed as officers of Indian MNS.’’ The respondents in Sikdar’s petition are the Army Chief, Defence Secretary, Army Adjutant General, DG Armed Forces Medical Services, DGMS (Army) and DGMS (Navy) Rear Admiral V.K. Singh.

According to her petition, on September 5, 2003, a similar ranked Rear Admiral of the Navy Singh said he could not allow Sikdar to display her stars and flag while on a visit to the Navy’s INHS Asvini.

Sikdar had complained to then Army Chief Gen N.C. Vij who met her on May 9 , though there was no further action.