Putting all uncertainty to rest, Admiral Karambir Singh on Friday assumed charge as the 24th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).
Singh's appointment was challenged by his colleague, Vice-Admiral Bimal Verma, on the grounds of seniority. Karambir Singh is the first helicopter pilot to become chief of the Indian Navy.
Singh took over from incumbent Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, who has retired. The defence ministry had rejected Vice-Admiral Verma's petition, in which he challenged Vice-Admiral Karambir Singh's appointment as the next Navy chief. Vice-Admiral Verma is the commander-in-chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command and also the senior-most naval commander. Following the defence Ministry's rejection, Verma approached the Armed Forces Tribunal.
While hearing the case, the AFT, which had asked the government to submit all files related to the selection process, set July 17 as the next date of hearing and allowed Singh to assume charge.
Prior to taking over, Singh was the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of Eastern Naval Command headquartered in Visakhapatnam. “Admiral Singh is the senior-most naval aviator. He is the first helicopter pilot of the Indian Navy to become CNS,” a Navy officer said.
The Indian Navy said that during his long and distinguished service spanning nearly 39 years, Admiral Singh has served in a variety of command and staff roles. He has commanded many front-line Navy warships like missile corvette INS Vijaydurg, guided missile destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi and Indian Coast Guard Ship Chandbibi.
An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai, Karambir Singh was commissioned into the Indian Navy in July 1980.
The Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) too will see a change of guard at the helm later this year. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa will retire in October and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat will superannuate at the end of December.
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Interestingly, the Modi government has already made it clear that seniority is no longer the primary criteria for selection. Army Chief General Rawat was picked up by ignoring two senior Army officers.
The tenure for a service chief is three years duration or the age of 62 years, whichever is earlier.