New Delhi:
The new army chief, General Bikram Singh, has cleared the way for a major promotion for the officer set to replace him in 2014.
Days before General VK Singh retired as army chief, he took severe action against Lt General Dalbir Singh who heads the Dimapur-based 3 Corps. General VK Singh had sent a notice to Lt General Suhag, stating that the latter showed signs of "abdicating responsibility" in handling an intelligence and surveillance unit under his command in a "most unprofessional and lackadaisical manner".
The comments referred to a failed intelligence operation in Assam last year. General VK Singh had also imposed a disciplinary and vigilance ban, which means that an officer cannot be promoted till he is cleared of the charges against him.
The army headquarters have accepted the explanation offered by Lt General Suhag; the army chief has also lifted the ban. So Lieutenant General Suhag will now be promoted to Eastern Army Commander, an office held by General Bikram Singh till he became army chief.