Local bias in judicial inquiries has tarnished the image of the Indian Army

"Whether it's Jammu and Kashmir or Manipur, we are facing the same local bias. Why doesn't any judicial inquiry ever exonerate the army?" the AG asked the Supreme Court.

Local bias in judicial inquiries at Jammu and Kashmir is giving the Indian Army a bad name, the Supreme Court was told. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court that the army cannot be subject to FIRs for carrying out operations against militants in insurgency hit areas of J&K and Manipur. There is local bias in judicial inquiries that is tarnishing the image of the Indian Army, the AG further submitted.

The submissions were made during a hearing in which compensation was sought in the alleged extra-judicial killings in Manipur between 2000 and 2012 by the security forces and the police.

"Military operations cannot be dissected in a particular way and the army cannot be subjected to an FIR. If this continues then it would be tough to carry out military operations," the SC was also told.

"Whether it's Jammu and Kashmir or Manipur, we are facing the same local bias. Why doesn't any judicial inquiry ever exonerate the army? These inquiries have never said that Army did the correct thing. The army is facing problems due to bias in such inquiries," Rohatgi further added.

One cannot disbelieve every operation that the Army carries out. Every judicial inquiry cannot be against the army, the AG said while also pointing out that the alleged cases of extra-judicial killings in Manipur were in fact military operations.

OneIndia News