New Delhi: There is anger and dismay among the top brass of the Indian Navy against what is being seen as blatant favouratism in the Naval headquarters.
The Navy HQ has bent its rules to facilitate the promotion of a key aide to the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Robin K Dhowan, say some Navy officials.
A circular issued a couple of months after Admiral Dhowan took over as the chief of the Indian Navy allows his long-serving Staff Officer Commander Satpal Singh to be promoted to the rank of Captain without having served the mandatory time at sea. (Click Here to Read the Circular)
In other words, the officer would be able to attain the rank of a Captain without having had the experience of commanding a front line ship.
The one-time exception, issued by the Naval HQ in July, also gives officers who have not qualified for the key Command Examination another chance to appear and qualify for the rank of captain.
The circular granting the one-time exception was issued on July 18 by the assistant chief of personnel, Rear Admiral S N Ghormade. The additional attempt for appearing for the Command Exam was issued after receiving 'a number of requests in the recent past', claimed the circular.
Some senior officers in Eastern and Western Commands -- the Indian Navy's two operational commands -- are appalled and alarmed at what they believe is manipulation and nepotism indulged in by the Naval HQ, allegedly at the behest of the Navy chief himself.
Commander Satpal Singh has been a Staff Officer to Admiral Dhowan for at least five years, an extraordinary feat in itself, Navy officers point out.
"This move will demoralise those who slog their way up in a highly competitive field up by spending long tenures at sea gaining operational experience," remarked an Admiral.
However, the Navy has denied the charges.
"As in every progressive organisation, the Indian Navy reviews and revises its personnel policies every four or five years to maintain a high level of motivation of its personnel. Such exceptions have been made in the past too," said a spokesperson of the Navy.
Admiral Dhowan's supporters term the allegations -- about the one time exception being granted only to suit his key aide -- as a 'canard'.
They claim the canard is being spread by those who don't make the grade and are therefore disgruntled.
Not satisfied with the Naval HQ's explanation, some officers are now contemplating legal recourse against what they believe is a case of extraordinary nepotism.
The Navy HQ has bent its rules to facilitate the promotion of a key aide to the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Robin K Dhowan, say some Navy officials.
A circular issued a couple of months after Admiral Dhowan took over as the chief of the Indian Navy allows his long-serving Staff Officer Commander Satpal Singh to be promoted to the rank of Captain without having served the mandatory time at sea. (Click Here to Read the Circular)
The one-time exception, issued by the Naval HQ in July, also gives officers who have not qualified for the key Command Examination another chance to appear and qualify for the rank of captain.
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Some senior officers in Eastern and Western Commands -- the Indian Navy's two operational commands -- are appalled and alarmed at what they believe is manipulation and nepotism indulged in by the Naval HQ, allegedly at the behest of the Navy chief himself.
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"This move will demoralise those who slog their way up in a highly competitive field up by spending long tenures at sea gaining operational experience," remarked an Admiral.
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"As in every progressive organisation, the Indian Navy reviews and revises its personnel policies every four or five years to maintain a high level of motivation of its personnel. Such exceptions have been made in the past too," said a spokesperson of the Navy.
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They claim the canard is being spread by those who don't make the grade and are therefore disgruntled.
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