Countering the complaint by a soldier on social media about the system of ‘batmen’ or 'Sahayaks' in the Army and what he said was poor quality food served to men in uniform, the Army said an inquiry found that the charges made by Sepoy Sindhav Jogidas Lakhubhai of the Army Medical Corps were “false and baseless” as he had never been employed as ‘buddy’ of any officer or JCO nor has he ever been asked to perform such a duty.

The Army said the sepoy, while on duty at the ICU Military Hospital, Ranikhet, refused to obey the instructions of the Duty Nursing Officer to clean the ‘bed pan’ of a bed-ridden patient at the hospital. It is to be noted that the task which he refused to perform, was a mandated task of his trade of housekeeper, the Army said, adding that for this act of indiscipline, the Sepoy was awarded seven days' imprisonment within the unit.

The soldier said he was airing his grievances in public because his complaints to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Defence Ministry had gone unheeded.

Referring to the “batman” system, called “Sahayak” duty, he said some officers treated soldiers attached to their residences as their servants.

However, the Army said the individual concerned is  employed in AMC in the trade of ‘housekeeper’. He has rendered nearly three years of service in the Army. 

It said that while he was on his initial posting at Military Hospital (MH) Ranikhet, Sepoy Sindhav was late in rejoining duties after availing leave for 2015.  He was awarded pay fine for unauthorised absence from duty. 

Subsequent to his release from confinement, while on leave in January 2016, the sepoy submitted written complaints to the PM, Defence Minister and Director General of Medical Services, Army (DGMS-Army) against CO MH Ranikhet and OIC Section Hospital Haldwani.

These were independently investigated through a ‘One-Man Inquiry (OMI)’ and were found to be baseless. A Staff Court of Inquiry by the Formation HQ also found him blameworthy for having violated the established chain of command and laid down chain of correspondence. He was tried summarily for the act of indiscipline and awarded 14 days' pay fine.