New Delhi
The Supreme Court has sought Centre’s response on a PIL seeking the abolition of Sahayak / Buddy system in army which continues despite parliamentary committee depreciating the same and recommending its discontinuation.
The bench headed by Justice J. Chelameswar on Friday sought Centre’s response as it issued notice on a PIL by two ex-army personnel – Chandrasekhara Pillai and advocate P.J. George – who are general secretary and president respectively of the Association of Ex -Army Aviation Technicians.
The PIL petitioner have also sought probe into the “unnatural” death of Gunner Roy Matthews whose decomposed body was recovered on March 2, 2017, about 50 meters from the staff quarters where he lived.
Matthews was reported missing since February 25, 2017 and on that day he had spoken to his wife for the last time.
Suspecting foul play in the death of Gunner Mathews, the PIL petitioners have alleged that certain officers were trying to hush up the death of the Gunner and trying to portray it as suicide.
The PIL petitioner have contended that even though Air Force and Navy have abolished the Sahayak system but army continues with it despite parliamentary standing committee on Defence Ministry recommending it’s discontinuation way back in 2009 in its 31 report.