It is only today that, I learned about the ongoing Court of Inquiry (COI) ordered by HQ Southern Command, Pune to investigate into and establish a series of wrongs, which were committed during the past two/three years in the Army Institute of Physical Training (AIPT) Pune. The inquiry, a consequence of a report made by an officer of the Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) to the Chief of Army Staff/General Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Command, against the previous and present Commandants as also some other officers of AIPT, Pune is in progress. The complaint, on which the convening order of the COI is premised, alleges serious and contemptuous acts of un-ethical official impropriety, indulged in by those blamed. In the recent past, some senior and middle rank officers of the APTC have cleverly manipulated the Service rules and financially milked the institutions/organizations they either headed or served in, for personal pecuniary gains. These despicable deeds of improbity, which are alleged to have been committed by this clique is not only sustained by the proverbial ‘ There is No Smoke, Without a Fire’ but is substantiated by the culpable evidence available to an open mind and a discerning eye. Having served as an Officer (Master at Arms) in the APTC for about 27 years, commanded the AIPT and been the Head of Service (HoS) of APTC, I enjoy a detailed and clear insight into the opportunities on offer to those officers, who are weak of soul and bereft of an abiding conscience. Unfortunately, these kind of people draw strength and courage to enact their misdeeds from their official position, hierarchical connections and a perverted sense of character. Much alike the berated politician and bureaucrat, who stand abashedly exposed in the public domain. It was during the last few years of my Military Service, when I was at the helm of affairs of the APTC, both at AIPT, Pune and the Military Training Directorate, Section -8, Army Headquarters, New Delhi and had the mandate, that I dutifully reached out to all officers of the APTC and implored them to practice character driven leadership, which upholds values and principles to the exclusion of all else. This, because being a minor Corps and small in size, but valueless in terms of the charter, contribution and content of its competency, any failure of its leadership will have an indelible and exaggerated effect upon the training environment and its own perception in the eyes of the General Staff. The COI, instituted on the basis of a written report, comprising a long list of financial and criminal irregularities and ethical wrongs of some officers, must be guided by the canons of verifiable evidence and justice and not become a handmaiden to official clout, which subordinates Truth. The present Chief’s recent counsel to his brother officers to report the wrong doings of their seniors, to eradicate corruption in the Army, has been well received by this officer and who knowing the truth must now endeavour to take the matter to its just conclusion. Should I say that character and the courage of his convictions has been shown by this officer, who was guided more by his conscience and sense of righteousness than falsehood and hypocrisy. Brigadier (retd) S D Dangwal 15 B /2 Shubash Road Dehra Dun-248001 07895131861