(1.) This petition has been filed, challenging the order dtd. 16/12/2024 passed by the learned Armed Forces Tribunal. Principal Bench, Delhi (in short, 'Tribunal') in OA No. 1682/2021, titled 'Lt. Col Parag Doval v. Union of India and Ors.' (hereinafter referred to as the 'first O.A.'), whereby the learned Tribunal has disposed of the said O.A. reserving the liberty of the petitioner to raise all the grounds that have been raised in the said O.A. in the subsequent O.A., that is, the second O.A. bearing No.3243/2024, filed by the petitioner and pending adjudication before the learned Tribunal.
(2.) Just as a brief synopsis, the facts giving rise to the present petition are that a Court of Inquiry (in short, 'COI') was convened vide order dtd. 6/3/2021, to investigate into certain allegations raised against the petitioner, details whereof need not be given in the present petition.
(3.) The petitioner filed the O.A. before the learned Tribunal challenging the proceedings of his COI. While the same was pending adjudication before the learned Tribunal, the proceedings in the COI continued, and a Show Cause Notice dtd. 31/1/2024 was served on the petitioner asking him to show cause as to why his services should not be terminated under the provisions of Rule 14 of the Army Rules, read with Sec. 19 of the Army Act, 1950. The petitioner applied for the supply of complete documents in support of the show cause, which was refused. Aggrieved thereof, the petitioner filed the second O.A., being O.A. No. 3243/2024, before the learned Tribunal. The learned Tribunal by the Impugned Order has observed that all pleas with respect to the proceedings of the COI, can now be taken in the second O.A. filed by the petitioner before the learned Tribunal, and disposed of the first O.A., observing as under:-