In Brief
A serviceman dismissed from the Air Force for overstaying leave and absenting without leave challenged his Court Martial conviction, alleging coercion and violation of constitutional rights. The High Court quashed the proceedings relying on documents produced late in litigation. The Supreme Court held that the respondent's guilty plea was voluntarily recorded with full opportunity to reconsider, and later-filed documents not part of the original proceedings could not overturn it. The Court restored the dismissal but noted the Competent Authority could consider pension/gratuity in exceptional cases, which the respondent could separately pursue.
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