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Journalism of Courage
The Supreme Court today directed the Special Promotion Board (SPB) of the Indian Air Force to reevaluate within three weeks the promotion of six Air Vice-Marshals to the rank of Air Marshal as per the 2004 promotion policy and submit the report in a sealed cover.
A bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice P P Naolekar issued the direction after hearing arguments and counter-arguments from the government and the respondents.
The Centre had preferred an appeal in the apex court challenging a Delhi High Court order quashing the 2002 promotion policy and the SPB order which had rejected the cases of Air Vice-Marshals Harish Masand and Chatwal.
The other four— Air Vice-Marshals A D Joshi, J S Gujaral, F H Major and A K Singh—were promoted to the rank of Air Marshal by the SPB in 2003. Appearing for the Centre today, Solicitor General G E Vahanvati informed the bench that Air Vice-Marshal Masand was not considered for promotion as a censure was passed against him.
‘‘In fact, there were three censures against him (Air Vice-Marshal Masand). His case was decided at the highest level,’’ the Solicitor General submitted.
To this, Vivek Tankha, appearing for Air Vice-Marshal Harish Masand, argued that his client had an unparalleled and excellent service record. ‘‘My client was No.1. They fudged the report,’’ he charged.
