Coast Guard chief appears before court

CHENNAI: Director-General of the Indian Coast Guard, Vice-Admiral Anil Chopra, on Monday appeared before the Madras High Court in a contempt case against him.
According to Md. Abbas Mohideen of Koyambedu here, he joined the Eastern Command on board CGS Jilabai at Paradeep in August 1993. While working as a Technical Officer in the ship, following a complaint from Commandant in October 1994, he was dismissed from service in April 1995.
According to the Coast Guard, he had failed to discharge his duties properly. He challenged his dismissal and a single judge in March last year quashed the proceedings of the Coast Guard court against him.
Aggrieved, the Defence Ministry, Coast Guard and others preferred an appeal.
A Division Bench in February this year dismissed the appeal and ordered reinstatement of the petitioner with consequential benefit. Contending that the Coast Guard did not comply with the orders, the petitioner preferred the present contempt application. In the meanwhile, the Coast Guard ordered his reinstatement. But, promotions due in 1995 and 2002 were not given to him.
Vice-Admiral Anil Chopra appeared before a Division Bench, comprising Justices F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla and R.Banumathi. He apologised for not turning up for the previous hearing. He was on national duty following the attack by terrorists in Mumbai. He assured that the court order would be complied with.