Corruption in Indian Army

It is said that the more security and freedom a system gets, the more apprehension there is of it being corrupt. Our Army is also no exception to it. Reports of its corruption are normally not made public, and even if they are, there are efforts to hide it or cover it up so that its "sanctity" is not harmed. Because of the Army and judiciary being considered as pure as a holy cow, we have not been able to find any effective remedy to the diseases that are taking root in them.
Had there been serious efforts made so far, there would not have been a land scam like Sukna. This scam has dealt a big blow to the Army's image. It should be noted that Military Secretary Lieutenant General Avdhesh Prakash, who is the main accused in the scam has been sent on leave just 10 days before retirement. Sending him on leave in this manner has deepened the doubt that perhaps an attempt is being made to protect him. This has also put Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor in the dock. Lieutenant General Prakash is considered to be very close to General Deepak Kapoor.

Presence of Private Agency
It has been proved in the probe that Lieutenant General Prakash used his influence to grant permission to a private contractor to build an education complex on the land adjoining the headquarters of 33rd corps in Sukna at Darjeeling. This corps is entrusted with the responsibility of keeping vigil on the Northeastern border with China. Thereby, the presence of a private agency has been called a threat from the viewpoint of security and secrecy. Three other Generals are also accused with him in the scam. In the beginning, Lieutenant General Prakash tried to hide facts and mislead the probe. Still, the Army chief recommended only strict administrative action against him, and not disciplinary action. In the same matter, it has been decided to take court martial action against one general.
Allegations were made against Lieutenant General Prakash earlier also. As military secretary, he had carried the responsibility of posting and promotion of an officer above the rank of colonel. Now that Lieutenant General Prakash is in the dock, it is but natural to raise doubt over all decisions he has made earlier. Has any compromise been made in the matter of posting on sensitive locations? This is not the only case. Other types of cases of corruption involving Army officers keep coming to the fore, from time to time. Is the dirty game of greed and partiality being played in the Army behind the glitter and glamour of discipline and regulations?
After revelation of such matters and talks about starting probe against Army officers, it is immediately said that it would have adverse impact on the morale of the Army, and anti-national forces could take advantage of it. But the corruption prevailing in the Army cannot be tolerated silently for this reason. We would have to develop some effective mechanism of dealing with it.

Possible Steps
Though Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has clarified that all possible steps would be taken to safeguard the image of armed forces, it is difficult to understand why there is delay in taking action against the officers responsible for the Sukna land scam?
Please remember this is the question that has remained unanswered for a long time. Giving Army land to a private builder cannot be called an ordinary scam. Immediate action should be taken in such matters, or the reasons for delay should be made clear.

Army Establishment
The Army establishment is also responsible for several doubts, and questions that are being raised because of delay in punishing the guilty. Such doubts and questions cannot be in the interest of the Army's image. The need is not only to take adequate action against officers found guilty in the Sukna land scam, but also to develop a mechanism so that the Army gets rid of such scams.
Undoubtedly, Army personnel are from society, but the manner in which small and big scams are surfacing every now and then for the past some time it seems that some fundamental flaw has entered the Army establishment. The reasons for why this is happening should be found out and remedial action should be taken, as soon as possible.
The Army leadership as well as the Defense Ministry should be concerned that cases of corruption in the Army are coming to the fore one after the other, with the involvement of senior officers also. It is not an ordinary incident that action is underway at the Army Headquarters against three retired generals with regard to cases of corruption.
There is no doubt that high standards of morality have been set in the Army, but it cannot be ignored that scams and corruption in areas from purchase of arms and weapons to ration, liquor, shoes, and other items have come to light in recent years. These cases of corruption indicate that there is some flaw in the process related to purchase of essential goods for the Army.

Demand of Situation
It is ironical that the Army chief had to face questions with regard to the Army's image on the eve of Army Day. It also became clear from the talks of the Army chief, who is almost at the end of his term, that he is going to hand over the task of resolving several problems on which discussion has been going on for long to his successor.
It is disappointing that for the past few years, successive Army chiefs have been promising to resolve these problems, but ultimately it is seen that these have remained unsolved. It would not be proper to hold only Army officers responsible for the problems the Army is facing, because the Defense Ministry is also responsible for it, at one level or the other.