‘Govt can take credit on LoC operations’

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a public interest writ petition to restrain the National Democratic Alliance government and its ministers from taking credit for the Army’s surgical strikes across the Line of Control.

The apex court said the armed forces are answerable to the government, otherwise there will be martial law in the country.

A bench of Justices Amitava Roy and Uday Lalit dismissed the writ petition filed by advocate M.L. Sharma, who sought a direction for action against defence minister Manohar Parrikar for allegedly squeezing political mileage from the Indian Army raid in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on September 30.

Mr Sharma said Union ministers, including Mr Parrikar, cannot take credit for the Army’s work as the forces come under the president, who is the head of the armed forces as per India’s Constitution.

He said the military’s actions were being used for personal gain by a few ministers. The court, however, said it cannot interfere in the matter as the armed forces are answerable to the government.

The petition said credit for successful raids has always belonged to the armed forces. Mr Sharma said the Army’s covert operations are not meant to be disclosed by anyone.