NEW DELHI: In a case highlighting the complexities of discipline within the Indian Armed Forces, an airman has been awarded Rs 1 lakh in damages after challenging an excessive penalty for queue jumping.
S.P. Pandey was detained for a day after maneuvering his motorcycle through waiting traffic to reach a railway crossing closed for a passing train—a common practice among motorists in India. The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) had previously supported Pandey’s appeal, overturning the reprimand imposed by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Seeking further redress, Pandey turned to the Supreme Court, arguing that the IAF’s actions caused undue loss of dignity. Justices P.S. Narasimha and Sandeep Mehta remarked, “While overtaking a senior’s vehicle at a railway crossing may be deemed indiscipline, it is crucial to maintain proportionality in punishment. Failure to do so blurs the line between governance and unfair treatment.” They concurred with the tribunal that the response to this minor incident was disproportionate.
