The Supreme Court has sought responses of the Defence Ministry and Army Chief on a lt General’s plea alleging that proper procedure was not followed in the appointment of Eastern and Western Commanders.
A bench of Justices TS Thakur and Vikramjit Sen issued notices to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Army Chief of Gen Bikram Singh seeking their responses to allegations levied by lt Gen Ravi Dastane.
Appearing for Dastane, senior advocate RK Anand questioned the policies and procedures followed in selection process of Army Commanders.
“The principle followed by the respondents (MoD and COAS) was that of ‘seniority-cum-fitness’ as against that of ‘merit cum suitability with due regard to seniority’ which had been directed by the apex court”.
The bench also requested Attorney General GE Vahanvati to assist the court during the hearing on the petition, which has challenged an order of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) dismissing Dastane’s similar plea.
The senior army officer has alleged in his petition that the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) “has been reduced to a mere rubber stamp”, by forwarding only one name per post of an Army Commander to the ACC for their approval.