Notice issued to Army chief

CHANDIGARH, Oct 12 : A notice to show-cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated for disregarding High Court directives has been issued to Chief of the Army Staff Gen V. P. Malik.

The notice for October 28 has been issued by Justice N. K. Sodhi of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after no action had been taken by Army authorities to discharge Capt D. S. Toor, who had sought pre-mature retirement from service despite HC directives.

A division bench comprising Justice G. C. Garg and Justice Iqbal Singh, had in July 1998, directed Army authorities to release Capt Toor from service within one month from the date of receiving the order. Capt Toor had moved the HC after his application for pre-mature retirement had been held up by authorities. When Army authorities failed to carry out the directives within one month as stipulated, Capt Toor had filed for contempt proceedings.