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Army Yields Ground: Delhi HC Closes Soldier's Plea After Screening Flaws Exposed
In a swift resolution to a contentious service dispute, the on , disposed of (Civil) 2724/2026 filed by Naib Subedar Ramakant Singh against the as . A of Justice Anil Kshetrapal and Justice Amit Mahajan closed proceedings after the acknowledged in the screening process for Singh's service extension, paving the way for a fresh evaluation.
The Firing Line Dispute: Leave or Lapse?
Naib Subedar Ramakant Singh, serving with , faced discharge on , after a screening board denied him a two-year service extension. The board cited his failure in firing tests (day and night) conducted on , at Naugam, Jammu & Kashmir.
Singh contested this vehemently, claiming he was on sanctioned leave from , in his hometown of Dinapur, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. He backed his alibi with bank visits for cash deposits and KYC updates during that period, insisting he never visited the unit and did not participate in the tests.
The Army, represented by officers like Colonel Anand A. Shirali and Subedar Ranveer Singh, maintained Singh was present and performed, even worsening his score on the retest.
Alibis Under Scrutiny: CDR Clues and Courtroom Showdown
On , the court noted the stark conflict: Singh physically present, Army officers joining virtually. The bench directed the Registrar General to requisition Call Detail Records (CDRs) and cell tower data for Singh's three active mobile numbers (7754996837, 7051646837, 9473821998) from . It stayed his discharge pending further orders, clarifying no automatic equity would favor him if the petition failed.
Singh disavowed a fourth number on his bank passbook, unused since 2015.
As reported in legal circles, this interim protection kept Singh in service while tensions simmered.
Army's Course Correction: Lapses Admitted, Fresh Shot Offered
The turning point came on April 7, when Major Anish Muralidhar presented a key communication dated , from the . It explicitly recognized , triggered by Singh's petition and his ongoing service under .
Key concessions: - Set aside prior board proceedings and results due to . - Fresh firing test at the Regimental Centre, factoring prior qualifying performances per AG/PS-2 guidelines ( letter). - Two-year extension from , if qualified, matching batchmates. - Service from February 28 regularized via court order. - Stern action promised against lapses post-inquiry.
No precedents were cited, as the resolution hinged on administrative rectification rather than judicial precedent-setting.
Key Observations
“Colonel Shirali submits that the petitioner had participated in the firing test (day and night) held on . Since he did not qualify... he was disqualified and not recommended for extension of service.”
“The petitioner submits that... he was on a sanctioned leave and during the leave period, he was at his hometown at Dinapur... and had never visited the unit at Naugam, J&K.”
“In instant case... for extension have come to notice of the competent authority... fair chance for extension of service to the JCO is justified.”
“Keeping in view the aforesaid facts, the present Petition stands disposed of as , as no further order is required to be passed.”
Victory Without Verdict: What It Means for the Forces
The court's terse ruling—
"the present Petition stands disposed of as
"
—signals no further judicial intervention needed, given the Army's proactive remedies. Singh gets his shot at extension without the uncertainty of CDR evidence.
For armed forces personnel, this underscores vigilance in screening protocols; lapses can trigger judicial scrutiny and resets. It highlights how petitions can prompt internal corrections, potentially averting deeper probes. Counsel for petitioner , and for respondents , navigated the pivot effectively.
While CDRs remain pending, the Army's admission closes the chapter, ensuring procedural fairness in high-stakes service decisions.
