SC dismisses plea against Parrikar for ‘claiming credit’ for surgical strikes

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. (Source: File Photo)

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL seeking action against Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for allegedly interfering and claiming credit for the surgical strikes conducted by the Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

A bench of Justices Amitava Roy and Uday U Lalit observed that the armed forces are “answerable to the government”, otherwise there will be “martial law in this country”. “This plea is not maintainable and is hence dismissed… We don’t see any merit in the plea,” said the bench.

Advocate M L Sharma, who had filed the plea, said that Union ministers, including Parrikar, had been claiming credit for the surgical strikes carried out by the Army’s special forces. Sharma contended that some ministers were using the armed forces’ action for personal interests, and that as per provisions of the Constitution, the President is the head of the armed forces and ministers are thus not entitled to claim credit.