The Military Justice System in India : An Analysis

As members of the armed forces, more than 1.5 million Indians are subject to the military justice system. A legal system designed and implemented to serve the interest of colonial masters after the Mutiny of 1857 is still applicable to this group of Indians in the name of discipline. This book discusses the concepts of ‘justice’ and ‘human rights’, and makes a strong case for the application of these concepts to the armed forces, while maintaining their discipline and operational efficiency. The military justice system is rarely criticised in our country—it is generally ignored under the notion that it relates to a handful of uniformed personnel who volunteer to be governed by it. A natural tendency exists within the armed forces to defend the system, calling it ‘time-tested’. In addition, a veil of secrecy is drawn over military matters.

The highlight of this book is a critical analysis of the existing military justice system in India and its comparison with that of the UK and the USA. Across the world, there is a clear trend of change in the military justice system regarding the rights of the accused and the human rights standards. Some important elements of this change are the independence of judges, the establishment of standing courts, the right to legal representation and increased rights of the accused in terms of electing trial instead of summary procedures. This book points out the deficiencies in the Indian military justice system and argues that limitations on human rights must be provided for by law and should be consistent with international treaty obligations.

Everybody concerned with the military justice system—political leaders, military personnel, social scientists, lawyers and policy makers—should read this book.
 

Contents
Preface ................................................................................................... v
Contents ............................................................................................. xiii
Table of Cases ...................................................................................... xix
CHAPTER 1
The Idea of Justice and the Military Justice System ....................... 1
CONCEPT OF JUSTICE .............................................................................. 3
NOTIONS OF JUSTICE .............................................................................. 8
MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM ......................................................................13
HISTORY OF INDIAN MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM .......................................18
CHAPTER 2
Constitution of India and the Armed Forces ............................... 23
THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION AND THE ARMED FORCES ............................24
Fundamental Rights ..................................................................25
Article 33 ...................................................................................28
International Law ......................................................................31
Changes in the Military Law in the UK ...................................33
Military Law in the USA ...........................................................34
Constitutional Interpretation ....................................................34
Article 21 of the Constitution ...................................................35
Fundamental Rights and the Military Legal System ................36
CASES RELATING TO ARTICLE 33 ...........................................................42
THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE SUPREME COURT ...................49
CHAPTER 3
Court-martial: System and Procedure at Trial ............................. 55
PROVISIONS OF COURTS-MARTIAL IN THE INDIAN AIR FORCE
AND THE NAVY .............................................................................58
JURISDICTION OF COURTS-MARTIAL AS TO OFFENCE ................................60
JURISDICTION OF COURTS-MARTIAL AS TO PUNISHMENT ..........................61
SUMMARY PUNISHMENT (OTHER THAN BY A COURT-MARTIAL) .................62
REVIEW OF SUMMARY PUNISHMENT ........................................................63
Important Functionaries of the Court ......................................63
PRE-TRIAL PREPARATION ..........................................................................67
Arrest .........................................................................................67
Investigation and Recording of Summary of Evidence .............68
TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIAL ......................................................................70
Assembly ....................................................................................70
Swearing or Affirmation of Court ..............................................71
Plea in Bar ..................................................................................71
WHEN ACCUSED PLEADS ‘GUILTY’ ..........................................................72
WHEN ACCUSED PLEADS ‘NOT GUILTY’ .................................................73
DEFENCE OF THE ACCUSED...................................................................74
Summing Up .............................................................................76
FINDING AND SENTENCE .......................................................................76
Conviction/Acquittal .................................................................77
Sentence .....................................................................................77
Confirmation and Revision of Finding and Sentence ...............78
Promulgation .............................................................................80
APPEAL/REVIEW OF COURT-MARTIAL DECISIONS ......................................80
PARDON, REMISSION AND SUSPENSION ....................................................82
CHAPTER 4
Comparative Perspective 1: The British Military
Justice System ........................................................................ 85
COURT-MARTIAL .....................................................................................86
Royal Navy ................................................................................86
SERVICE DISCIPLINE ACTS .......................................................................87
THE ROLE OF CONVENING AUTHORITY ..................................................87
REFORM IN THE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM .............................................89
Reforms in 1996 and 2000.......................................................91
The Military Justice System: Specific Issues .............................93
Court-martial Members ............................................................96
Review and Appeal ....................................................................96
Army Legal Services ...................................................................97
Further Reforms ........................................................................97
The Armed Forces Act 2006 .................................................. 103
CHAPTER 5
Comparative Perspective 2: The American Military
Justice System .......................................................................107
MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM ................................................................... 111
Administrative Action ............................................................. 111
Non-judicial Punishment (NJP) ............................................ 112
COURT-MARTIAL .................................................................................. 113
Summary Court-martial ......................................................... 113
Special Court-martial ............................................................. 114
General Court-martial (GCM)............................................... 115
Convening Authorities ........................................................... 117
Unlawful Command Influence ............................................... 119
Article 32 Investigations ......................................................... 121
Military Judges ....................................................................... 121
Rights of Accused ................................................................... 122
Right to a Government-Funded Expert ................................. 123
Appeal ..................................................................................... 125
COURTS OF CRIMINAL APPEALS ............................................................ 126
De Novo Review ..................................................................... 126
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ........... 126
Review by the Supreme Court ............................................... 127
Updating of Military Justice System ...................................... 127
MILITARY COMMISSIONS ...................................................................... 128
Conviction under Military Commission ................................ 130
CHAPTER 6
Critical Appraisal and Analysis ...................................................135
RIGHT TO FAIR TRIAL ......................................................................... 140
PRE-TRIAL CUSTODY ........................................................................... 145
PROVISIONS RELATING TO ARREST ....................................................... 145
RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED .................................................................. 156
Legal Aid ................................................................................. 156
Judiciary and Legal Aid in India ............................................ 165
LEGAL AID: INDIAN MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM ...................................... 167
Respondents’ Opinions .......................................................... 171
Right to Bail ........................................................................... 174
Respondents’ Opinions .......................................................... 176
NON-JUDICIAL PUNISHMENT ................................................................ 177
RIGHT TO ELECTION FOR TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIAL ............................ 188
Statement of Witnesses ........................................................... 188
Pre-trial Information .............................................................. 189
Review of Punishment ............................................................ 189
Right to Appeal ...................................................................... 189
ROLE OF CONVENING AUTHORITY ...................................................... 191
Unlawful Command Influence ............................................... 193
Respondents’ Opinions .......................................................... 208
JUDICIARY OF THE ARMED FORCES ...................................................... 210
Respondents’ Opinions .......................................................... 223
MILITARY TRIBUNALS ........................................................................... 225
SUMMARY GENERAL COURT-MARTIAL (SGCM) ..................................... 226
SUMMARY COURT-MARTIAL (SCM) ....................................................... 228
Respondents’ Opinion on Summary Courts-martial ............. 232
DISCIPLINARY COURT UNDER THE NAVY ACT 1957 ............................. 233
MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF MILITARY TRIBUNALS ........................................ 234
SENTENCE AND SENTENCING .............................................................. 239
Sentence .................................................................................. 240
Sentencing .............................................................................. 241
Court Members v Judge Advocate .......................................... 243
CRUEL, UNJUST AND DISPROPORTIONATE PUNISHMENT ......................... 248
DISPARITY IN SENTENCING: SENTENCING GUIDELINES ............................ 250
CHAPTER 711.Question of warrant of arrest against surety879
12.Committing Magistrate can forfeit bonds where he granted bail879
13.Remission of penalty imposed on surety under S. 446(3)879
14.Forfeiture of bond by CJM is appealable before Sessions Court880
15.Penalty against each surety is for amount which he undertook in bond880
16.Imposing penalty on sureties -Illustrative cases880
17.Discretion to grant remission to be exercised judicially881
18.Court before which appearance to be made must be expressly stated in bond881
19.Liability of surety when case transferred to another court882
20.Penalty reduced where sureties rendered help for securing arrest of accused882
21.Which court can take steps to forfeit a bond?882
22.Liability of surety cannot be unilaterally extended without his consent882
23.Status of bail bond during appellate stage883
24.Action where bond provided forfeiture of amount to court and not to Government883
25.Only bond taken under Cr.P.C. could be forfeited under this section883
26.Bail bond to be strictly construed and its language cannot be departed from884
27.No forfeiture of surety bond where accused was required to appear before police884
28.Cancellation of bond where case was transferred884
29.Distinction between bond for appearance and bond for keeping peace or for good behaviour884
30.Options available to executant at stage of realisation of forfeited bond amount885
31.Realisation of bond amount by distress warrant after hearing surety on show cause notice885
32.Opportunity of hearing while cancelling bail where cash deposit taken885
33.Amount to be paid by sureties for joint and consolidated bond885
34.Penalty for non-compliance of bail bond in bailable offence885
35.Remission of portion of penalty after final order of recovery of penalty amount under bond886
36.Recording of grounds of forfeiture of bond when notice issued to surety886

37.Effect of forfeiture of bond of appearance886
38.Forfeiture of bail bond does not amount to cancellation of bail886
39.No forfeiture possible where bond not supported by Cr.P.C.887
40.Question of validity of detention of surety887
41.Forfeiture of surety bond-Illustrative cases887
42.Request for reducing amount of surety bond forfeited889
43.Specific order of forfeiture of bond required before notice for realisa-tion issued889
44.Procedure for recovery of fine under S. 421 applicable to S. 446889
45.Whether notice required for cancelling bail and bond of accused889
46.Hearing affected party before forfeiting bail bond890
47.Necessity of forfeiting bond before asking to pay penalty890
48.Liability of heirs of surety890
49.Committing surety to prison without forfeiting surety bond891
CHAPTER 15
CANCELLATION OF BOND AND BAIL-BOND
1.Corresponding old law.892
2.Effect of cancellation of bond.892
3.Use of word “may” implies discretion.893
4.S. 446-A not to be affected in any way by S. 436.893
5.Under S. 446-A, court can exercise control over accused for his regu-lar appearance.893
6.Release on personal bond again if absent due to sufficient cause.894
CHAPTER 16
PROCEDURE IN CASE OF INSOLVENCY OR DEATH
OF SURETY OR WHEN A BOND IS FORFEITED
1.Corresponding old law.895
2.Use