Remark on LAC: SC rejects plea for action against Gen VK Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 2

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a PIL seeking action against Union Minister Gen (Retd) VK Singh for allegedly violating oath of office by making certain comments on the India-China border stand-off.

“Are you a scientist? Use your energies to find a solution. If he is not good, the Prime Minister will look into it,” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana told the petitioner’s counsel after he insisted that Singh made statements against the Army.

“If the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways has done something it was for the Prime Minister to act and the court can’t pass any order in this regard,” the Bench said.

“If you don’t like a statement by a minister, you file a plea and ask him to be removed,” it told the counsel for petitioner Chandrasekaran Ramaswamy, who cited various events where Singh made controversial statements.

Ramaswamy, an activist, had sought directions to declare that Singh breached of his oath for his recent statements on the Line of Actual Control in which the former Army Chief allegedly claimed that India transgressed the LAC many times, as per its perception, and the Chinese had taken advantage of the statement made and used it to blame India for encroaching upon its perceived territory.