Proceedings against a Junior Commissioned Officer linked to the procurement case have also reportedly been underway separately.
Jammu August 29 : A Summary General Court Martial (SGCM) has cashiered a Lieutenant Colonel of the Army Medical Corps (AMC) and sentenced him to one year of rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty of financial misappropriation and administrative irregularities connected with the procurement of medical supplies for 166 Military Hospital in Jammu.
The officer faced 14 charges under Sections 52(a), 52(f) and 63 of the Army Act, involving allegations of false statements, intent to defraud and acts prejudicial to good order and military discipline. The military court found him guilty on five counts. The trial concluded on August 28, 2026, in the Nagrota area near Jammu.
The findings and sentence remain subject to confirmation by the competent confirming authority. Proceedings before the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) also mean that the punishment cannot be treated as finally implemented at this stage.
According to the chargesheet, the Lieutenant Colonel served as the indenting officer for medical supplies at 166 Military Hospital during 2018 and 2019. He was also involved in technical and financial board proceedings relating to procurement
The prosecution alleged that while performing these responsibilities, the officer repeatedly projected urgent requirements for medical stores worth approximately Rs 3 crore in violation of provisions of the Defence Procurement Manual, 2009. He was also accused of improperly selecting and rejecting vendors, allegedly resulting in undue benefits to certain parties. The hospital’s overall allocation for medical supplies during the two-year period covered by the chargesheet was reported to be approximately Rs 30 crore.
Another aspect of the prosecution’s case concerned the procurement of fixed-dose and multi-salt combination medicines in unusually large quantities. These medicines were allegedly purchased on a non-approved or special procurement basis instead of through the normal government medical supply chain. The prosecution alleged that expensive medicines were recommended for purchase after two vendors were selected through a restricted tendering process. Questions were also raised over the officer’s participation in different stages of the procurement process, including technical evaluation and financial proceedings.
Cashiering is one of the most serious punishments that can be imposed upon a commissioned officer by a court martial. It amounts to punitive dismissal from military service and is distinct from normal retirement or administrative release from the Armed Forces. The additional sentence of one year’s rigorous imprisonment would involve imprisonment following confirmation and subject to the outcome of any legal proceedings or tribunal orders affecting implementation of the punishment. 166 Military Hospital is an important Army medical establishment serving personnel in the Jammu region. Local procurement mechanisms allow military hospitals to purchase medicines and other essential medical stores when requirements cannot be met adequately or quickly through the central supply system. Such expenditure is governed by prescribed procurement procedures intended to ensure that requirements are genuine, competitive processes are followed where applicable and government funds are properly accounted for. The cases arising from the hospital’s 2018-20 procurement cycle are particularly significant because disciplinary proceedings have reached senior levels of the Army Medical Corps, including a Major General who commanded the hospital and a Lieutenant Colonel directly involved with procurement. However, the punishments awarded by the respective courts martial should not yet be regarded as finally executed. Further action will depend upon confirmation by the competent military authorities and compliance with directions issued by the Armed Forces Tribunal
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