AFT has set 20 May as the next date of hearing on the matter and has told the government needs to communicate their decision to Vice Admiral Bimal Verma by 17 May. (image via @ShivAroor/Twitter)
AFT has set 20 May as the next date of hearing on the matter and has told the government needs to communicate their decision to Vice Admiral Bimal Verma by 17 May. (image via @ShivAroor/Twitter) 
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Vice Admiral Verma’s Plea Against Supercession: Armed Forces Tribunal Asks Government To Take Decision By 15 May

BySwarajya Staff

The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) on Thursday (25 April) has told the government to decide upon the statutory complaint by the Andaman Nicobar Command chief Vice Admiral Bimal Verma against his supercession for the Navy chief’s post by 15 May, The Times of India reports.

On 23 March, the government had announced that the Eastern Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Karambir Singh would take over as the next Chief of the Naval Staff from Admiral Sunil Lanba after his retirement on 31 May. Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is six months junior to Vice Admiral Verma.

On Tuesday (23 April), Vice Admiral Verma moved the AFT for the second time after he did not receive any response for his statutory complaint within ten days from the Ministry of Defence. Earlier on 9 April, the officer had withdrawn his petition as the AFT told him to follow procedure and first lodge a legal complaint with the defence ministry.

AFT has set 20 May as the next date of hearing on the matter and has told the government needs to communicate their decision to Vice Admiral Verma by 17 May.

Verma’s lawyers have contended that the government made an “arbitrary and whimsical decision” to oust him from consideration for the Navy chief’s post and argue that the government wrongfully used two letters of severe objection issued to him back in 2005 and 2007 to disregard him despite being the senior most naval commander in service.