| Details : | Wing Commander Jagjeet Singh Bhalla (20186) Administration/Legal was commissioned in the Adm Branch on 16 Jun 1990. He is on the posted strength of the Dept of Judge Advocate General (Air), Air HQ (VB) since 09 Aug 2004 and functioning as Joint JAG (Air). After his first posting at 46 Wg, Wg Cdr Bhalla has worked as Command Deputy Judge Advocate at three Commands. At HQ WAC, he had single-handedly monitored 47 civil suits filed against the UoI/AF as a consequence of the recommendations of the V Pay Commission and had successfully safeguarded the interests of the UoI /AF, at times, even by pleading personally before the Courts. At HQ EAC and TC, he displayed legal acumen of the highest order and had formulated new legal syllabi for various training institutes and new policies for disciplinary/administrative action against trainee officers/airmen. He had conducted 78 Courts Martial as Judge Advocate at these places in a most befitting manner and has been commended by the AOC-in-C, WAC in Jan 1993 and by the CAS in Jan 1999 and Jan 2003. At the Department of JAG (Air), Wg Cdr Bhalla has efficiently and promptly processed almost all complicated disciplinary cases and comprehensively briefed ASGs/Govt Counsels in all important Civil Suits against the Uol/AF and thus ensured that no adverse orders are passed by the Courts. In cases filed before different High Courts challenging 'Promotion Policy for Warrant Ranks', he successfully pleaded the case on behalf of the Uol and obtained favorable orders. He also assisted in formulating policy regarding 'Protection against sexual harassment of women at work places in the IAF'. He has actively assisted JAG (Air) in formulating a policy for Tele-recording of evidence of outstation witnesses in the Court of Inquiry', which has resulted in substantial saving of man-hours, resources and expenditure. He has played an active role in ensuring smooth transfer & assignment of 'disciplinary' functions to the Department of JAG (Air) and CJA Sections and consequently, the new system has now been fully established in accordance with the direction of the CAS. AFO 227/77, dealing with the 'Discipline - IAF Personnel', had become a bit obsolete. Wg Cdr Bhalla has revised the said AFO as 03/08 by encompassing all the practices and procedures adopted since the issuance of the previous AFO and this new AFO has been accepted virtually as a 'Bible' for taking 'Disciplinary/Administrative' Action, against AF personnel. He has also drafted the AFO 05/08 prescribing the procedure for dealing with the non-statutory complaints. After a decade, in Dec 2007, CJAs Conference was successfully conducted at Air HQ, which was single handedly organized by him. In September 2005, he had participated in the 'Pacific Joint Operations Law Exercise', conducted at Big Island, Hawaii (USA), where his performance was widely appreciated. The officer has undergone Judge Advocate Staff Officers Course at AF JAG School, Albama (USA) from Feb 2007 to Apr 2007. Due to his potent performance, Commandant AF JAG School has intimated the AF authorities in writing about the impact of the officer on the students and instructors of the US JAG School. The Commandant has mentioned that 'Wg Cdr Bhalla ranks near the very top of all international officers they have ever had participating at the school and that he would be honoured to serve with Wg Cdr Bhalla anywhere'. Such an acclaim of the Commandant US JAG School speaks volumes about the professional competence and attitude of the officer. For his distinguished service of high order, Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Wing Commander Jagjeet Singh Bhalla. |
