Accidental Firing Of BrahMos Missile Into Pakistan Cost India Rs 24 Crore: Centre

The accidental firing of a BrahMos combat missile into Pakistan in March last year, led to a loss of Rs 24 crore, the Union Government told the Delhi High Court.

The submission was made while justifying the dismissal of three IAF officers including a Wing Commander for gross negligence.

While opposing a petition by Wing Commander Abhinav Sharma against his termination from service, the Centre in its affidavit said that the trial of the three officers by a court martial law was inexpedient, especially considering the sensitive nature of the evidence on record and also the fact that the international community was interested to know the importance of the practical details regarding the firing of the missile.

"Considering the sensitive nature of the subject matter having widespread ramifications for the security of the State, a conscious and considered decision was taken in good faith to terminate the service of the petitioner under the President's pleasure clause. Such a decision has been taken in the Indian Air Force after 23 years as facts and circumstances of the case warranted such action," the Union Government told the court.

The petitioner challenged the termination order issued against him under Section 18 of the Air Force Act, 1950. He was posted as an engineering officer at the time the incident took place.

In his petitioner Sharma said that he was imparted professional and practical training only for duties which are purely of maintenance in nature and not on conduct of operations. He also said that he performed all his duties as per the Combat SOP governing the operations and that the cause of the incident was solely operational in nature.

Defending the decision, the Centre said that the decision was actuated by public interest with any mala-fide. The Centre also said that the petitioner was accorded all opportunities during the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry.

"Likewise, it was also decided that initiation of action under Section 19 of the Air Force Act, 1950 read with Rule 16 of the Air Force Rules, 1969 by issuing a Show Cause Notice for dismissal/removal from the Service would bring the sensitive and secret issues in full public domain which would be prejudicial to the security interests of the State.

Accordingly, a considered decision was taken by the competent authority to terminate the services of the petitioner and two other above stated officers under Section 18 of the Air Force Act, 1950, which stipulates that 'every person subject to the Air Force Act, 1950 shall hold office during the pleasure of the President," the reply by the Centre also said.

On March 9 last year, India accidentally fired a BrahMos missile into Pakistan, with human error causing the unprecedented incident. Two days later, India attributed the incident to a malfunction during routine maintenance.

While Pakistan registered a protest, both sides however managed to avoid a hostile or escalatory tone.