Delhi High Court Confirms Dismissal of IAF Corporal Over Viral Video Complaint

New Delhi, May 29, 2026 — The Delhi High Court has affirmed the dismissal of former Corporal Sachin Kumar Solanki from the Indian Air Force (IAF). He was removed for recording and sharing a video on Facebook while in uniform, where he criticized alleged inequalities in service conditions between officers and airmen.

Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan, constituting a Division Bench, rejected the writ petition filed by Solanki in the order dated May 19, 2026. This ruling confirms the Armed Forces Tribunal's (AFT) decision to uphold his dismissal.

Corporal Sachin Kumar Solanki, who joined the IAF in 2011 as an Airman-Communication Technician, served at multiple locations before the incident that triggered his removal. Known now as Ex-Corporal (Retd), he had pursued legal recourse against his dismissal.

On January 22, 2017, Solanki, while in uniform, uploaded a video on his Facebook account with over 2,000 followers, which quickly spread on social media. The video contained specific allegations of unequal treatment:

Officers receive full free rations, while jawans only receive ₹3,000 to ₹3,500 monthly, inadequate for essentials like milk and water.

Officers have stitched uniforms delivered to them, whereas jawans lack such services; Solanki claimed he had not received new shoes for two years.

Despite being more educated and higher paid, officers receive ₹15,000 in Military Service Pay (MSP) under the 7th Pay Commission, compared to ₹6,000 for jawans.

On temporary duty, officers travel comfortably and stay in hotels, whereas jawans travel without reservations, often seated near toilets.

Officers' families are respectfully addressed at official events, unlike those of jawans, which embarrassed Solanki to bring his wife before officers' spouses.

The government should examine the substantial disparities between officers and jawans as both are paid for their roles.

Solanki admitted to creating and sharing the video while in uniform.

After the video surfaced, the IAF initiated a Court of Inquiry, leading to a Show Cause Notice on August 29, 2017. Following Solanki's response, on December 2, 2017, the competent authority ruled for his removal under Section 20(3) of the Air Force Act, 1950, and Rule 18 of the Air Force Rules, 1969. The order cited that his conduct harmed the force's reputation, involved baseless public allegations, bypassed internal grievance mechanisms, and adversely affected discipline and service norms, rendering his continued service undesirable.

Solanki had not utilized the internal grievance mechanisms available within the IAF before making his complaints public.

Solanki's challenge to his removal was presented before the Principal Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal in New Delhi (OA No. 331/2018). On October 17, 2025, the AFT dismissed his application, affirming that the administrative action was justified, adhered to natural justice principles, and was neither arbitrary nor excessively severe.

The Delhi High Court, in its decision to dismiss the writ petition, highlighted the restricted scope of judicial review in military discipline-related matters. The Court recognized the unique requirements of command, hierarchy, operational efficiency, and discipline in the Armed Forces, intervening only in cases of clear illegality, bad faith, procedural misconduct, or excessively harsh punishments.

The Bench noted that public airing of service grievances by uniformed personnel on social media has broader consequences, potentially impacting discipline, hierarchy, morale, and the force's image. Solanki's actions breached Air Force Order 17/2015 and Paragraph 11 of Chapter VIII of IAP 3903, which caution against public dissemination of service-related information.

“Public dissemination of service grievances while being in uniform, particularly through social media platforms, carries consequences extending beyond the individual concerned and has the potential to affect discipline, hierarchy, morale and institutional image.”

The Court further noted:

“Despite the existence of established internal mechanisms for redressal of grievances, the Petitioner chose not to avail such channels and instead resorted to public dissemination through social media. Thus, the punishment cannot be said to be so outrageously disproportionate as to shock the conscience of this Court.”

The Court dismissed arguments regarding perceived violations of natural justice, Solanki's mental state or family issues, his identification as a "Technical Officer" in the Tribunal's order, and the lack of Court Martial proceedings, ruling that the administrative response following a Court of Inquiry and Show Cause Notice was valid and independent.

The Delhi High Court dismissed the writ petition and resolved all pending applications, leaving the dismissal intact.

This judgment emphasizes the high standards of conduct expected from armed forces personnel and the inadmissibility of using social media to publicly address internal grievances while in uniform, especially when internal remedies are available. It reiterates the judicial respect for military authorities' role in maintaining discipline and integrity within the Indian Air Force.