In the first-of-its-kind case, the Army on Friday decided to initiate court martial proceedings against a retired lieutenant general on corruption charges, for allegedly procuring poor quality food items for troops fighting insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] four years ago.

Lieutenant General (retired) S K Sahni will be seniormost army officer, serving or retired, to face such disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act.

The court martial proceedings, to be presided over by a senior Lieutenant General, will begin on November 26 at the 11 Corps headquarters in Jalandhar.

The retired officer had served as the Director General (Supplies and Transport) in Army headquarters and retired from that post in 2006. He held the responsibility of supplies to the troops serving across the country.

Under the Army Act, any retired officer could be called back for court martial proceedings for offences committed during his service tenure that had come to light before or after his superannuation.

A court of inquiry probing the charges indicted him along with six other officers including a major general and two brigadiers.