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Defence Ministry, Army chief on warpath again
The Defence Ministry and the Army are at loggerheads once again as the former on Friday sought details from the Army Headquarters about a discipline and vigilance (DV) ban on 3 Corps chief Lt General Dalbir Suhag.
The Ministry was peeved as the Army did not inform it about the ban earlier and that General VK Singh issued a show cause notice to such a senior officer in a case of alleged theft by troops under him without it coming to the Ministry’s notice.
Suhag was issued the notice on Thursday and given seven days to reply. The notice said he handled the theft case and subsequent court of inquiry in an “unprofessional and lackadaisical manner.” The ban was also imposed the same day.
The DV ban bars any promotion or posting of the officer till he is cleared by the Army Headquarters. Suhag’s prospects of becoming the next Eastern Command chief and the Army chief two years later can be adversely affected by the notice. This can disrupt the entire succession line.
Meanwhile, the Army Chief denied that the show cause notice was “personal vendetta” on his part and said “a notice is issued on certain grounds by a senior officer to a junior officer.”
Stating this on the sidelines of a book launch function here on Friday, Singh said “it is the moral duty of the junior officer to respond to the notice and not go around running to the media.”
On the Defence Ministry seeking details of the case, sources said the Army informed the Ministry about the DV ban on Friday. While seeking a report on the entire issue, the Defence Ministry also sought to know if Chief-designate Lt General Bikram Singh was informed about the Army chief’s show cause notice and DV ban.
Explaining the relevance of this factor, officials said the incoming chief is kept in the loop about all decisions as per the standard operating procedure. Incidentally, Bikram is the Eastern Command chief and Suhag is his subordinate. Sources said Bikram was not informed about the Army Chief’s notice and the subsequent DV ban.
On the issue of the Ministry’s role after the DV ban against Suhag, sources said “promotions are a sensitive matter as the concerned officer works hard to get ahead and the Ministry will not like to take any action in a flimsy manner. Moreover, a decision by the Government has to stand the test of law in a court.”
The Defence Ministry is likely to examine the gravity of the case after receiving the report from the Army and Suhag’s involvement or responsibility will also be scrutinised, they said.
Meanwhile, Suhag is likely to submit his response to the notice within the stipulated time frame and may appeal to Defence Minister A K Antony to order a stay on the DV ban, sources said.
Suhag also has to worry about the possibility of a censure by the Army Chief if the 3 Corps chief’s reply to the notice is not found to be satisfactory. The censure and the DV ban can be reconsidered by the Defence Ministry if the officer files an appeal and sources indicated that Suhag may get a reprieve as the Government is not keen to upset the succession line and expose itself to a flood of lawsuits.
The Defence Ministry and the Army are at loggerheads once again as the former on Friday sought details from the Army Headquarters about a discipline and vigilance (DV) ban on 3 Corps chief Lt General Dalbir Suhag.
The Ministry was peeved as the Army did not inform it about the ban earlier and that General VK Singh issued a show cause notice to such a senior officer in a case of alleged theft by troops under him without it coming to the Ministry’s notice.
Suhag was issued the notice on Thursday and given seven days to reply. The notice said he handled the theft case and subsequent court of inquiry in an “unprofessional and lackadaisical manner.” The ban was also imposed the same day.
The DV ban bars any promotion or posting of the officer till he is cleared by the Army Headquarters. Suhag’s prospects of becoming the next Eastern Command chief and the Army chief two years later can be adversely affected by the notice. This can disrupt the entire succession line.
Meanwhile, the Army Chief denied that the show cause notice was “personal vendetta” on his part and said “a notice is issued on certain grounds by a senior officer to a junior officer.”
Stating this on the sidelines of a book launch function here on Friday, Singh said “it is the moral duty of the junior officer to respond to the notice and not go around running to the media.”
On the Defence Ministry seeking details of the case, sources said the Army informed the Ministry about the DV ban on Friday. While seeking a report on the entire issue, the Defence Ministry also sought to know if Chief-designate Lt General Bikram Singh was informed about the Army chief’s show cause notice and DV ban.
Explaining the relevance of this factor, officials said the incoming chief is kept in the loop about all decisions as per the standard operating procedure. Incidentally, Bikram is the Eastern Command chief and Suhag is his subordinate. Sources said Bikram was not informed about the Army Chief’s notice and the subsequent DV ban.
On the issue of the Ministry’s role after the DV ban against Suhag, sources said “promotions are a sensitive matter as the concerned officer works hard to get ahead and the Ministry will not like to take any action in a flimsy manner. Moreover, a decision by the Government has to stand the test of law in a court.”
The Defence Ministry is likely to examine the gravity of the case after receiving the report from the Army and Suhag’s involvement or responsibility will also be scrutinised, they said.
Meanwhile, Suhag is likely to submit his response to the notice within the stipulated time frame and may appeal to Defence Minister A K Antony to order a stay on the DV ban, sources said.
Suhag also has to worry about the possibility of a censure by the Army Chief if the 3 Corps chief’s reply to the notice is not found to be satisfactory. The censure and the DV ban can be reconsidered by the Defence Ministry if the officer files an appeal and sources indicated that Suhag may get a reprieve as the Government is not keen to upset the succession line and expose itself to a flood of lawsuits.
