Gen V K Singh sends notice to Lt Gen in line to be Army Chief

This notice,which has also been sent to a Brigadier in the same Corps,can put Dalbir Singh’s appointment as Eastern Army Commander into question. While the officer,who is slated to take over as Chief after Gen Bikram Singh,had been cleared for appointment as Commander,the posting orders have not yet been issued.

The Army HQ can technically withhold his appointment as the show cause notice can be used to impose a discipline and vigilance ban on the officer. However,sources said that the officer has proceeded on leave and is yet to accept the notice,which demands a reply within 13 days.

A Brigadier who works under Lt Gen Dalbir Singh,who was also issued the notice,has taken a stay on the matter from the Armed Forces Tribunal. The same option is also open to Dalbir Singh.

The matter concerns a Court of Inquiry by the Eastern Command into an operation carried out by the 3 Corps Intelligence and Surveillance Unit in Jorhat in December during which alleged irregularities took place. The Army Chief’s notice said he had observed that the actions taken by Lt Gen Dalbir Singh as GOC were not adequate to deal with the situation.

This is the second time that Gen Singh has taken action against Dalbir Singh. Earlier he had recommended a CBI probe against him for alleged involvement in a procurement scam in the Cabinet Secretariat. However,this was turned down by the government after a clean chit by the Cabinet Secretariat.