Supreme Court Directs Army to Reconsider Promotion After Finding Bias in Confidential Reports
The Supreme Court upheld the Armed Forces Tribunal’s decision to expunge biased entries in an Army officer’s Annual Confidential Report (ACR) for 2018–19, citing mala fide intent by the reporting officer. Extending the relief, the Court also ordered expungement of the 2017–18 ACR, holding that both reports suffered from the same arbitrariness. It directed reconsideration of the officer’s promotion, emphasizing that concealed adverse remarks without justification violate principles of fairness under Army Order 02/2016. The judgment reinforces judicial scrutiny over subjective assessments in service matters to prevent career prejudice.
Facts Of The Case:
Brigadier Sandeep Chaudhary, a decorated officer with 12 awards including two Vishisht Seva Medals, was commissioned into the India...