Gulshan Kumar Bajwa
Gulshan Kumar Bajwa (alias Gulshan Bajwa or Flt Lt GS Bajwa) was born on 23 May, 1951 in New Delhi. His name was in the Merit List for Arts-stream in the Central Board of Secondary Education's Higher Secondary Examinations in 1965, and was awarded Mrs. Marion Barlow Scholarship in BA (Hons) Economics at Hindu College (Delhi University); he is also a National Topper in University Grants Commission's NET (JRF/SRF) in 'Management' subject in 1986.
Dr. Ghosh (the then Head of Economics Department in St. Stephens College) gave his personal Study-Notes to Bajwa -- it is rare for any Professor to give his personal Study-Notes to a student of another college. After his Graduation, Bajwa joined Delhi School of Economics (Delhi University) for Post-Graduation.
Bajwa was granted Permanent Commission on 27.06.1970 (46 GDOC) and took part in 1971-War that split Pakistan into two parts, and created Bangladesh.
He is also an Alumnus of PUMBA (Savitribai Phule Pune University), Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS, Delhi University) & Campus Law Centre (Delhi University); he qualified Advocates-on-Record Examination (Supreme Court of India) and was appointed Advocate-on-Record by a judicial order -- his name appears under alphabet 'G' in Supreme Court of India's official website[1].
Bajwa came into prominence when he exposed corruption in the higher Ranks of IAF, and 'Indian Express' (a National English Daily) published a news-item about the same on its front page -- Mr. Arun Shourie was then the Editor of Indian Express. Dr. Subramanian Swamy & Mr. Jaipal Reddy (both Members of Parliament) also raised the issue with the then Defence Minister -- Mr Swamy (who was a Member of Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence) wrote to the then Defence Minister, and Mr. Reddy asked a Question about Bajwa in the Parliament (i.e. on the floor of the House) based on an article published on the Editorial page of 'The Pioneer' (a National English Daily). This was a period when even the Apex Court was reluctant to tread upon the 'military boots'. Yet, it was for the first time that -- by invoking its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India -- Supreme Court delivered a landmark Order by granting Bajwa 'subsistence allowance' -- whereas the statutory rules provide such allowance only for civilian government servants and the statutory Rules for the Armed Forces are still silent on this subject-matter; the actual Judgment of Delhi High Court is published by several prominent Online Law-Reports [2].
Some of the highlights of Bajwa's case are:-
i) He is the first Permanent Commissioned Officer to expose corruption in higher Ranks of Air Force;
ii) He is the first Armed Forces Officer to be granted 'subsistence allowance' by Supreme Court of India;
iii) He is the first Government servant to be awarded 'subsistence allowance' after severance from service and, thus, he continued to be in service under the Air Force Act 1950 -- since he was "in Pay" (in full or in part);
iv) Ordinarily, a person who is employed is not allowed to practise as an Advocate, but he was the first one to be allowed to practise Law vide an Order of Delhi High Court which stated that his aforesaid subsistence allowance was being increased since he was not earning enough from Legal Profession -- he, in turn, was filing a record of his professional earnings in the same High Court so that the said amount could be deducted while paying the 'arrears' of his full Pay & Allowances (Delhi High Court's Judgment cited above, refers);
v) He was the one to procure for Supreme Court Judges' Library, for the first time, a full set of Armed Forces' Law Manuals;
vi) It was on the basis of a communication conceived & drafted by him and sent through the Security Committee [headed by the then Dy. C.P. (Security) at Supreme Court] that the Chief Justice of India came to have, for the first time, a Flag Car and a Police Escort-jeep;
vii) He was the first Commissioned Officer to qualify University Grants Commission's NET (JRF/SRF) -- in 'Management' subject in 1986;
viii) It was at his suggestion that Supreme Court revised the format of Special Leave Petition -- to do away with the duplication in narrating the 'facts' both in 'List of Dates & Events' and in the 'body' of the Petition; and also in waiving off the 'Interview with Registrar' for such 'in-Person' Litigants as have been Advocates[3];
ix) His Working Paper on doing away with Annual Airmen's Clothing Parades (wherein Airmen were called upon to return their old short-spanned clothing items before getting the new ones) and, instead, increasing the life-span of all clothing items by an year or so, was accepted by Air Marshal LP Pereira (the then Air Officer in-charge Maintenance) and Ministries of Defence & Finance -- subsequently, this system was also implemented by other Services;
x) Based upon his suggestion to the Government of India, Common Admission Test (CAT) also started 'Online Tests' w.e.f. 2009;
xi) He was the first Indian citizen to appear before the Chief Justice of India -- after having been declared 'dead' by Supreme Court of India itself[4].
Bajwa also exposed corruption in 'admissions' to PhD Courses in 'Management', and in various rungs of the judiciary.
Under Air Force Act, Rules & Regulations a Permanent Commissioned Officer remains so -- unless he voluntarily resigns his/her Commission, or is 'cashiered' by a court-martial within the prescribed period after he/she leaves service; and any Officer who is "in Pay" (in full or in part) is deemed to be in service. Hence, if he/she has passed Promotions Examinations 'B' & 'C', then he/she is entitled to Time-Scale Promotions upto the Rank of Wing Commander -- unless he/she is permanently in the Medical Category ApBp.
