It is again going to be an all out war for the top
post of the Indian Army. As top army officer Lt Gen Ravi Dastane is
contemplating to move the court over stalling of his appointment as the
Eastern Army Commander the incumbent Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag and the
Ministry of Defence (MoD) is bracing to file a Caveat petition.
Lt Gen Ravi Dastane
Four
months ago the Indian Army had put an ugly year-long age-controversy
between the Army Chief General VK Singh and the Defence Ministry behind
it. But, the clashes in the top brass over promotion are again haunting
the 1.1 million-strong Indian Army.
The
current episode has its roots in the age controversy of the previous
Indian Army Chief General VK Singh. General VK Singh on his last day in
the office had imposed a Disciplinary and Vigilance (DV) ban on Lt Gen
Suhag – at that time the 3 Corps Commander. This technically made Lt Gen
Suhag ineligible as Eastern Army Commander; the post fell vacant after
General Bikram Singh moved in as the Indian Army Chief.
Lt Gem Dalbir Singh Suhag
The
ineligibility of Lt Gen Suhag to get elevated meant that next senior
officer in line - Lt Gen Dastane would have been appointed the Eastern
Army Commander and would have been in line to become the Army Chief
after incumbent General Bikram Singh retired. However, the Defence
Ministry and Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) waited for
General VK Singh to retire and General Bikram Singh to take over
following which the DV ban was lifted and Lt Gen Suhag was given the
charge of the Eastern Army Command.
General Bikram Singh joins hand with Antony?
Presently
Lt Gen Dastane’s statutory complaint against stalling of his
appointment as Eastern Army Commander is still pending with the Defence
Ministry. After it is disposed of Lt Gen Dastane is all geared up to
move the court. Sources close to Lt Gen Suhag have indicated that the
army commander is also gearing up for filing a Caveat petition so that
the court also hears his arguments before passing a judgment in the
case. The Defence Ministry is also going to throw its weight behind the
Eastern Army Commander.
Lt Gen
Dastane had earlier gone to the Army Chief with his complaint. But it
was turned down by the force saying the decision was taken by ACC and
the Indian Army had no role to play in it. And the Defence Ministry’s
stand was that the DV ban imposed by General VK Singh was aimed at
tweaking the traditional seniority-based succession line in the force.
Sources
also indicate that technically Lt Gen Dastane might be on a strong
ground as he is claiming that imposition of DV ban was an individual
officer’s problem and the system should have taken its own course as per
norms.
Earlier this year in January, General (retired) VK Singh had dragged the government to the court claiming he was a year younger than as maintained by the Defence Ministry that effectively curtailed his tenure as the Army Chief by a year.
gen Dastane should gracefully accept the decision.
ReplyDeleteas a General he must have sat on the boards of many cols , brigs and maj gens. His heart knows justice was not done to many of them . He was the party to the many undeserved promotions . general Suhag is a special forces general and perhaps the govt thinks to shape its policy he is better suited. BY going to court is the general going to support all officers who are not promoted to approach the tribunals.A TRUE DEDEICATED SOLDER MUST ACCEPT THE DECESION WITH GRACE EVEN IF IT IS WRONG OR OTHERWISE THE INDIAN OFFICER AND JAWAN WILL QUESTION EACH AND EVERY COMMAND OF THE GEN OFFICERS IN BATTLE AND THAT WOULD BE SAD DAY.IT WOULD BE BETTER TO RETIRE GRACEFULLY THAN COMBAT A UNWILLING BEUREUCRACY AND POLITICAL SETUP WHICH WILL ERODE HIS ATHORITHY WITH THE ARMY ACCOMPLISHING LITTLE OR NO MODERNISATION .