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R Prasannan
R Prasannan

DEFENCE

Hail to the new chief! A chairman next?

PTI12_31_2016_000058B General Dalbir Singh handing over the baton to General Bipin Rawat | PTI

With the two superseded lieutenant-generals indicating that they are continuing in service, the expectation that one of them is going to be made permanent chairman, chiefs of staff committee is soaring.

Gen. Bipin Rawat took charge of the Indian Army on Saturday morning from Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag, while Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa took charge of the Indian Air Force from Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha.

Lt-Gen. Praveen Bakshi and Lt-Gen Hariz, both of whom have been superseded, have so far indicated that they will work with Rawat. Bakshi, who is the eastern army commander and the senior of the two, extended his “best wishes and full support”to new chief. The eastern command's spokesman has also put out a statement that “everyone should focus on contributing their best to the betterment of the army and the nation.”

With the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, the senior-most among the three chiefs, Admiral Sunil Lanba had become chairman of the chiefs of staff committee. Raha had handed over the chairman's baton to Lanba on Friday. At present, the senior-most among the three chiefs holds the post of chairman of the chiefs of staff committee. 

Now, there is speculation that the government will finally create a permanent post of chairman, chiefs of staff, in a few weeks and that a four-star officer, the same rank as the three chiefs, will be give that post. He would be only notionally senior to the other three, but would not be in command of the forces. His role would be essentially confined to modernisation, procurement, and giving military advice to the government. The three chiefs would continue to the operational commanders.

Several committees had earlier recommended creation of a permanent chief of defence staff with a five-star officer (field marshal, admiral of the fleet or marshal of the air force) holding the post. But the services themselves had resisted it. Finally two recent committees, one headed by Naresh Chandra and the other by Lt Gen. D.B. Shekhatkar (retired) had recommended creation of a permanent chairman, chiefs of staff committee. 

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar too has indicated several times that a major restructuring of the higher defence organisation is in the works.

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Topics : #Army

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