Govt asks Chief to explain his notice to key Lt Gen

On receiving the notification,the ministry wrote back to Army Headquarters,asking for an explanation of the harsh decision.

This,even as Gen V K Singh escalated the issue on Friday,accusing Lt Gen Dalbir of making the show cause notice public. “If Lt Gen (Dalbir Singh) Suhag wishes to go out in public and show the show-cause notice issued to him to media or public… such things are not approved of in the forces,” said the General,replying to questions after addressing a rally of the Himachal chapter of ex-servicemen at Dharamsala.

The ministry is learnt to have asked Army HQ to submit all files and case details that led to the imposition of the ban. Sources said that the explanation has been demanded as the ministry is concerned that rules were bypassed by Army Headquarters in imposing the ban.

The ministry is believed to be of the view that as per rules,all major decisions by the Army Chief have to be taken in consultation with the Chief Designate Lt Gen Bikram Singh who is scheduled to take over the top post at the end of this month. As per norms,all files have to be shared with the officer who has been announced as the next Army Chief.

In the case of Lt Gen Dalbir Singh,the Army did not inform Lt Gen Bikram Singh,who is currently the Eastern Army Commander. “Promotions and appointments are a sensitive matter. It has to be seen of the ban will stand the test of a court of law,” a Defence Ministry official said.

Sources also said that Lt Gen Dalbir Singh formally accepted the show-cause on Thursday evening. He now has seven days to reply to the notice that asks him why a censure should not be imposed in his records for alleged “unprofessional and lackadaisical manner” in handling an intelligence unit accused of botching up an operation.

This effectively gives him till late May 30 or early May 31 to send a reply. As action is usually taken only after a reply from the accused officer is received,it would give a very small window for Army Chief General VK Singh to take action,as he hands over the reins to Lt Gen Bikram at midday on May 31.