Pradip R Sagar / Saturday, February 11, 2012 9:00 IST
Soon afterthe Supreme Court order on the army chief came in, the defence ministry swung into action to prepare the ground to declare Gen VK Singh’s successor in the coming days.
Sources in South Block that houses the defence ministry told DNA that the government is likely to discuss the name of the next army chief in the next meeting of Cabinet Committee of Security, scheduled to take place on Friday.
General Singh is to retire on May 31 and as per tradition, an announcement of a successor is usually made two months prior to retirement.
Once the CCS clears the name, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, the final authority, will stamp the decision.
Sources said the current Eastern Army Commander, Lt Gen Bikram Singh is likely to take over on June 1. However, if the current army chief were to put in his papers, then the current Western Army Commander Lt Gen Shankar Ghosh will be the senior most and hence eligible to be appointed as the chief of army staff.
There were strong rumours within the army that pressure could mount on General Singh to put in his papers after facing such an embarrassment in the apex court.
“If he resigns, it will disturb the line of succession,” a senior defence ministry official said. However, the government made the appropriate noise in the Supreme Court, praising Gen VK Singh’s service and leadership and urged him to complete his term gracefully. Gen Singh, who is in Jaipur for a day on a pre-scheduled visit, will consult his family and friends before taking a call on the issue, sources said.
Sitanshu Kar, the official Defence Ministry spokesman stated: “We are happy that the issue has been finally resolved and the controversy has been put to rest.” The ministry has initiated the process to appoint the 27th chief of army staff.
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