The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the creation of a supernumerary post in the rank of Air Marshal in IAF for 17 months to enable an officer to get promoted after being overlooked earlier.
The period of 17 months is from December 1, 2014 to April 30, 2016. The Cabinet took the decision following an order of the Armed Forces Tribunal (Principal Bench), New Delhi in the case of petitioner Air Vice Marshal Sanjay Sharma.
The Cabinet nod will now enable the Defence Ministry to seek approval of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for granting promotion to Sharma in accordance with the proceedings of Review Special Promotion Board-2014, as directed by the Armed Forces Tribunal.
After the sanction and subsequent to approval of the Review Special promotion Board-2014 by the ACC, Sharma will be considered for promotion to the rank of Air Marshal retrospectively with effect from December 1, 2014. The post is over and above the sanctioned strength of Air Marshals in the Aeronautical Engineering branch.
Sharma had approached the Tribunal alleging that his annual reports were moderated and thereby brought down in merit vis-à-vis other officers considered for promotion. He claimed Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, who in December 2013, chaired the Special Promotion Board for 2014-15, had differences with him on official matters.
The Bench had last year directed the Defence Ministry and the Air Force to reconsider the petitioner’s case for promotion after deleting the review carried out by the Senior Reviewing Officer. It had said in case Sharma makes the grade, he would be deemed to have been promoted to the rank of Air Marshal in the relevant Board and will be entitled to all consequential service benefits.