M A I N   N E W S

Lots of egg on Army’s face
Notices served on 50 officers over supply of small-sized eggs 
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3
Supply of small-sized eggs has created a big controversy in the Army. Headquarters Northern Command has initiated action against a large number of officers for failing to adhere to norms while issuing contracts for purchase of fresh eggs for troops, it is learnt.

The General who stayed on A Major-General, who retired from service after not getting promoted to Lieut-General, today came to his old office at the Army Headquarters and refused to budge from it. Attired in civilian garb, Maj-Gen V.C. Jain, who retired on August 31 as the additional director-general (administration and coordination), entered Sena Bhawan, along with his lawyer, and refused all requests to leave.

Sources reveal that show-cause notices have been served on over 50 officers of the rank of Colonel and Lieut-Colonel who were commanding supply depots and units in the Northern Command, for “operating faulty contracts resulting in loss to the exchequer”.

The notices were issued on the orders of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Lieut-Gen H.S. Panag, about a week ago after the matter was brought to his notice. The said contracts pertained to a four-year period.

The sources said as per specifications laid down by the Directorate-General Supplies and Transport (DGST), each egg has to weigh at least 48 grams and a tray of 12 eggs should weigh 600 grams. The contract concluding authority at Headquarters Northern Command, however, specified the weight in the contract documents as 40 grams per egg.

Army personnel, whether officers or jawans, are entitled to two eggs a day. Given the number of troops deployed in the Northern Command, which comprises three corps along with Rashtriya Rifles formations and other allied establishments, the amount of eggs procured each year can well be imagined.

By rough estimates, millions of eggs are procured each year for troops in the Northern Command. Since “faulty” contracts were in operation for several years, the quantum of loss to the exchequer on account of under weight eggs could run into crores of rupees, the sources said.

Only last month, the Jammu and Kashmir police had unearthed a major scam involving large-scale diversion of special supplies meant for troops deployed in high altitude areas.