In a case that turned a trivial traffic incident into a full-blown legal ordeal, the Supreme Court has ordered a ₹1 lakh compensation to an Indian Air Force airman who was dragged into unnecessary litigation for overtaking a senior officer’s vehicle at a railway crossing.
The dispute, sparked by the airman overtaking a Squadron Leader’s car, spiraled into a reprimand and formal admonition. The Armed Forces Tribunal later sided with the airman, acknowledging the punishment as an overreach but initially offered no compensation for the distress caused.
The Supreme Court criticized the military’s response, calling the punishment “unjustified” and “vindictive,” pointing out that a minor breach of military decorum had been blown out of proportion. The Court remarked that such an issue should have been quickly resolved through simple dialogue, emphasizing that senior officials should have intervened before the situation escalated.
In a scathing critique, the Court stated, “The balance between discipline and punishment is key to good governance. This was nothing more than a small excess that could have been settled with an apology, but the institution chose to stand behind the senior officer, leaving the airman to fight a lonely battle.”
Acknowledging the emotional and financial toll of the drawn-out litigation, the Supreme Court deemed the airman’s loss of dignity worthy of compensation, despite the challenge of putting a monetary value on such harm. Ultimately, the Court granted the airman ₹1 lakh for the time and effort lost in contesting the overblown case.
The case is now closed, with a lesson on proportionality and justice resonating beyond the courtroom.
