The Supreme Court today refused to stop the appointment of Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag as the next chief of the Indian Army.
New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today refused to stop the appointment of Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag as the next chief of the Indian Army. He is scheduled to take over from incumbent General Bikram Singh on August 1.
That's out of line, claims Lieutenant General Ravi Dastane, who last year lost his case at the Armed Forces Tribunal which functions as an army court dealing with issues of promotions. He then brought his case to the Supreme Court, where he wants top judges to stop the appointment; the court refused to do that today, and adjourned the case fixing the next date of hearing in September.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told Parliament last month that the government has no plans to reconsider Lieutenant General Suhag's appointment as the army chief. (Arun Jaitley Seeks Explanation on Affidavit from Defence Ministry Officials)
Lieutenant General Dastane claims that in 2012, Lieutenant General Suhag was shown undue favour to be named the chief of the army's Eastern Command, an appointment which made him eligible for the army chief's post.
Lieutenant General Dastane said that Lieutenant General Suhag should have been ineligible for Eastern command chief because there was a disciplinary and vigilance ban imposed on him by the then Army Chief General VK Singh over a botched military intelligence operation in the North East.
But General VK Singh's successor, General Bikram Singh, reversed the ban and Lieutenant General Suhag's appointment was cleared. (General VK Singh Delivers Huge Controversy for Government over Next Army Chief)
Lieutenant General Dastane in his application said that if he had been appointed the Eastern Command chief instead of Lieutenant General Suhag, he would have been in line for the post of army chief owing to his seniority.
Former Army Chief General VK Singh, now a union minister, had last month tweeted in defense of his decision to take action against Lieutenant General Suhag, which left the government deeply embarrassed. (General VK Singh's Tweets a Disgrace, He Must Resign, says Congress)
That's out of line, claims Lieutenant General Ravi Dastane, who last year lost his case at the Armed Forces Tribunal which functions as an army court dealing with issues of promotions. He then brought his case to the Supreme Court, where he wants top judges to stop the appointment; the court refused to do that today, and adjourned the case fixing the next date of hearing in September.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told Parliament last month that the government has no plans to reconsider Lieutenant General Suhag's appointment as the army chief. (Arun Jaitley Seeks Explanation on Affidavit from Defence Ministry Officials)
Lieutenant General Dastane claims that in 2012, Lieutenant General Suhag was shown undue favour to be named the chief of the army's Eastern Command, an appointment which made him eligible for the army chief's post.
Lieutenant General Dastane said that Lieutenant General Suhag should have been ineligible for Eastern command chief because there was a disciplinary and vigilance ban imposed on him by the then Army Chief General VK Singh over a botched military intelligence operation in the North East.
But General VK Singh's successor, General Bikram Singh, reversed the ban and Lieutenant General Suhag's appointment was cleared. (General VK Singh Delivers Huge Controversy for Government over Next Army Chief)
Lieutenant General Dastane in his application said that if he had been appointed the Eastern Command chief instead of Lieutenant General Suhag, he would have been in line for the post of army chief owing to his seniority.
Former Army Chief General VK Singh, now a union minister, had last month tweeted in defense of his decision to take action against Lieutenant General Suhag, which left the government deeply embarrassed. (General VK Singh's Tweets a Disgrace, He Must Resign, says Congress)
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
