2. By and large, this Troika calls Indian military a beacon of efficiency and patriotism. Not that the sacrifices of our soldiers need any certificates! Nevertheless, periodically the Troika does indulge in public distribution of medals and so on. But when it comes to the same military seeking a fair deal in terms of service including pay and allowances and a say in decision-making on issues concerning them (the soldier), one sees contours of a different equation emerging. The earlier positioning of Troika as great saviour vis-à-vis the soldier is now shown as what it really was – a fraud . Now that the Chowkidar (soldier) has shown the temerity to seek a fair deal, he must be put in his place. He (soldier) is a “whiners” and his 60 year old Chief is portrayed as imbecile who is being defiant and need to be taught obedience.

3. Position of Soldier in a democracy. Soldier in democracy is a citizen first. This stands amply clarified by the Courts of India in more than one judgment. Just like any other citizen he has rights and duties which remain with him even after he joins the armed forces of the nation (Bedi PPS, Lt Col, VS, UoI, AIR 1982 SC: 1413: 1983 Cri LJ 647 (SC), : 1982 (2) SLJ 583)[1]. Second the Indian soldier is a volunteer. He willingly takes on the noble task of defending the nation unto death. This spirit of self-sacrifice for a higher cause makes him a `special citizen’ and not any less citizen. Curbs on his freedom are not meant to make him a slave. These are solely meant to meet certain operational necessities and in no way curtail his right to due process of law in matters of pay and allowances. This is amply clarified through judgments of various courts including the Madras HIgh Court itself (Rai DSC, Maj Gen v GCM Fort St Goerge, Madras, Madras High Court WP Nos. 3067 and 3068 of 1984 (Order dated 25 April 1984) [2].

4. Command of Armed Forces Article 52(2) of the Constitution reads: "Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision the supreme command of the Defence Forces of the Union shall be vested in the President and the exercise thereof shall be regulated by law." Due process of law applies as much to government of the day as to the soldier. Soldier is duty bound to obey `legal orders’ of government but has no obligation to suffer indignities and calumny. Soldier is entitled to protection extended to other employees in service matters including fair and just compensation. In fact the Army Act provides special protection to soldier from attachment of his pay for any reason and here we have a situation wherein the Cabinet on the advise of bureaucrats (Committee of Secretaries) has lowered pay and status of soldiers and their pensions without giving any reasons (in administrative matters speaking order is legal necessity) and what does the so-called independent press do! It goes on to blame the Military Leaders calling them defiant and disobedient!! If this is not ignorance, then I am sorry to say that it is travesty of truth.

5. Role of Military Leaders in administration of troops. Soldiers do not form trade unions because the task of getting a fair deal from the government is assigned to head of unit/regiment/army. It is a duty enshrined in the motto of Indian Military Academy. I quote it in full for the benefit of all.

“ The safety honour and welfare of your country
come first always and every time.
The honour welfare and comfort of the men
you command come next.
Your own ease comfort and safety
come last always and every time “

6. When Military Chiefs articulating their anguish and opposition on patently illegal downgrading of military officers and reduction in pension of jawans they are performing their legal, nay, sacred duty.

7. Role of press in dealing with a set of people who have legal/ self-imposed vow of silence. There are certain curbs on a soldier’s interaction with media. These are meant to safeguard from premature divulgence of sensitive operational information. These curbs are taught and enforced through training and it makes the soldiers intrinsically are shy of publicity or public display of emotions. This silence becomes part of their ethos and is reflected in adjectives like `the silent service’, which the Indian Navy uses to describe itself. Most of the soldiers extend these limited restrictions to even matters of routine administrative nature. Hence it is the duty of the media persons reporting on defence matters to be scrupulously fair and sensitive to the ethos of military in reporting matters relating to services and avoid any hint of superciliousness, partiality or impropriety. In the instant case these qualities were conspicuous by their absence. Just demands of the military were termed `whine lists’. The 60 year old Chiefs, who have put in nearly four decades of service to the nation are reported by the press to have been `castigated’ by a uber-cool political leadership and `told firmly’ to `behave’. This is hitting below the belt and is nothing but lack of character on part of reporters and absence of editorial control.

8. Role of Government in safeguarding military leaders from slander. Even more worrisome is the absence of sensitivity on part of those in the government. On one hand when a TV Channel reported existence of a letter in Army HQ purportedly written by serving senior officer (s), the Press Information Bureau of Government of India was very quick in denying its existence. But when on more than one occasion the press reported about so-called `castigation’ of Chiefs, the same PIB kept totally quiet. At the very least this points to grave insensitivity towards honour and sensibilities of the military on part of Troika or at worst a well planned strategy to humiliate and down grade entire military.

9. Future. It was heartening to note that people at large, who are the ultimate repository of sovereignty in a democracy have extended overwhelming support to their brothers and sisters in uniform. They instinctively recoginse the special nature of duties a soldier performs, risks he takes, deprivation he suffers and price he pays in terms of family life and risks to life and limb he bears are for the good of entire nation. Let us all stand up to the self serving elite and expose it for what it really is – a set of self-serving, in-breeding cowardly lot who have no stake in Bharat that is India. Let us build a strong vibrant and confident India whose soldiers are proud to bear arms in its defence.