Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 2

Six years after an Army Major posted in North Glacier died due to “thunderstorm and lightening”, his wife still does not know whether the mortal remains shown to her are that of her husband.The “kara” on the wrist of the deceased was not of Major GS Cheema, his wife Sarabjeet Kaur claims. Her efforts to obtain a DNA report from the Army authorities too have proved futile, compelling her to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court.Taking up the petition against the Union of India and other respondents filed in 2013, Justice Rajan Gupta asserted it was inexplicable why the widow of a deceased Major had to knock the High Court doors merely to find out whether the mortal remains sent by the Army authorities were that of her husband. He also questioned the undue delay in furnishing the DNA reportCounsel for the Union of India submitted that the original record would be placed before the Bench on the next date of hearing in August.Granting an opportunity for the purpose, Justice Gupta asserted the Chief of the Army Staff may depute a responsible officer to remain present in court on the next hearing for enabling him to assist the counsel representing the Union of India.“This court shall also be apprised of procedure for identifying mortal remains in case a soldier dies in remote, inaccessible and hostile terrain, whether immediate steps are undertaken for DNA profiling for identifying bodies of such soldiers in case they die in combat, disease, natural calamity or any other reason,” Justice Gupta added.The Bench was earlier told that Major Cheema was stated to have died while he was posted at Ashoka Post in North Glacier. Serving in the 6th Armoured Regiment, he was sent on attachment to 13 Mahar for a year with effect from May, 2011, and thereafter deputed to Ashoka Post in 2011. Justice Gupta said records indicated that a fire had broken out at Ashoka Post on July 20, 2011. The Army’s stand was that Major Cheema had died in a thunderstorm. The mortal remains of the deceased were shown to his wife, but she did not accept these for lack of proof.

Confusion over death

• Major GS Cheema was stated to have died while he was posted at Ashoka Post in North Glacier
• The Army claims he died in a thunderstorm/lightening
• But records indicate that a fire had broken out at the post in the evening of July 20, 2011