Wednesday, October 31, 2012

MoD refers Lt Gen’s complaint for promotion to Law Ministry

History is repeating itself in the war for the top post of the Indian Army. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday referred the statutory complaint by Lt Gen Ravi Dastane against appointment of Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag as the Eastern Army Commander to the Law Ministry.
 
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Lt Gen Dastane had filed a statutory complaint with the Defence Ministry of August 6, as to why Eastern Army Command bordering China was kept vacant after Lt Gen Suhag – senior to him on June 1 – became ineligible for promotion due to imposition of Disciplinary and Vigilance (DV) ban.

According to sources, the Defence Ministry that was bound to reply to the complaint with a period of 90 days has referred it to Law Ministry for advice. In 2011, the Defence Ministry had referred former Army Chief General VK Singh’s complaint for reducing his age by a year for legal advice. The Law Ministry had opined against the former Army Chief’s request and the ensuing developments climaxed with General VK Singh dragging the government to the Supreme Court over his age.

The ongoing issue stems from the decision taken by the General VK Singh during his last week in the office to impose a DV ban on Lt Gen Suhag – then the Commander of Dimapur-based 3 Corps – thereby stalling his promotion as the Eastern Army Commander. The attempt was seen in the Defence establishment to alter the seniority-based succession line in the 1.1 million-strong army as the move had thwarted the chances of Lt Gen Suhag to become Army Chief after incumbent General Bikram Singh.

The Defence Ministry bid its time and waited for General VK Singh to superannuate and General Bikram Singh to reverse the DV ban. After two weeks of keeping the Eastern Army Commander vacant, Lt Gen Suhag was appointed its Chief following an approval from the Appointments Committee of Cabinet.

The argument of Lt Gen Dastane – who is presently the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff - is that after Lt Gen Suhag became ineligible due to DV ban, he should have been appointed the Eastern Army Commander for being the next senior-most officer.

Sources in the Defence Ministry, however, says that the intention was “not to inflict injustice” to Lt Gen Dastane, but “to do justice” to Lt Gen Suhag.

With the Lt Gen Dastane making his intent public that he will take the government to the court if his grievances are not addressed, the Indian Army finds itself in the thick of the storm even as the dust on the year-long battle for age by the former Army Chief General VK Singh has barely settled down.

The infighting amongst the top brass of the second-largest standing army is again threatening to be played in full public view as sources close to Lt Gen Suhag indicated that the officer is also gearing up to move a caveat in the court on Lt Gen Dastane’s petition so that his argument is also heard before passing a judgement.

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.

3 comments:

  1. Is the rules meant only for 'cattle class'? More often than not it is seen that they are flouted at highest level for some one's benefit.
    Weather Gen Dastane should be next chief should be dealt with existing rules, or else change the rule book itself...

    ReplyDelete
  2. this one is higher leval it comes to thepublic where as in the lower leval mod is not taken any action any body because the the rules in higher leval seems to be very polite case in lower leval the mod no action on aft judgement or even the JAG army oder and even their own order are not in action in lower leval one lt col of eme records close the case of 25 years as become COAS IN SPEAKING ORDER CLOSE THE CASE no lt gen or no maj gen in the lower leval case it is wonder in the army. nobody bothered in lower levals .in higher leval the polision play the game . only qution of hony pension they side line by the way of hony lt in non active. now who willthigh the bell to the cat sub maj /hy lt a.aklagesan in eme

    ReplyDelete
  3. this one is higher leval it comes to thepublic where as in the lower leval mod is not taken any action any body because the the rules in higher leval seems to be very polite case in lower leval the mod no action on aft judgement or even the JAG army oder and even their own order are not in action in lower leval one lt col of eme records close the case of 25 years as become COAS IN SPEAKING ORDER CLOSE THE CASE no lt gen or no maj gen in the lower leval case it is wonder in the army. nobody bothered in lower levals .in higher leval the polision play the game . only qution of hony pension they side line by the way of hony lt in non active. now who willthigh the bell to the cat sub maj /hy lt a.aklagesan in eme

    ReplyDelete