Filed before a division bench of the Bombay High Court by joint secretary (Navy) R P Bagai, the affidavit challenges Bhagwat's petition on the grounds that it was filed much after he had been sacked and was politically motivated.

Admiral Bahgwat was sacked by an order of the President of India on December 13 last year. In his petition for reinstatement, he has made the then Defence Minister George Fernandes and the Union of India respondents.

In his affidavit, Bagai has stated that though Bhagwat's services were terminated on September 13, he filed his petition much later. It also states that the petitioner is a compulsive litigant and is habituated in initiating litigations, wherein baseless and unsubstantiated allegations are levelled against senior public officials.

Advocate Dhanjayay Chandrachud, who appeared onbehalf of the Union of India, also pointed out to the court that prior to filing the petition and thereafter, Bhagwat expressed his views in the media. Advocate Chandrachud also said that earlier the Bombay High Court and Delhi High Court had rejected similar public interest litigations for a direction to reinstate Bhagwat.

The division bench of Bombay High Court, comprising Justice M B Godeshwar and Justice S Radhakrishnan, has adjourned the proceedings till November 30.