Make selections transparent, Parrikar tells armed forces

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, April 27

Fed up with an increased number of complaints in armed forces tribunals by officers who miss higher ranks in the armed forces, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, has asked the three services — the Army, Navy and the IAF — to make their own systems of selection more transparent.

Parrikar today clarified on the sidelines of an IAF function that he had not issued any orders to have civilian oversight in the selection boards of the three services.

The minister, while addressing the top brass of the three services during their respective Commanders conferences in this month, had addressed the issues of promotions at the senior levels.

There have been allegations in tribunals by officers that they have been overlooked.

PTI adds: Arguing that the present system of promotion to higher grade, or the ranks of Brigadier and above, has its own logic, defence sources, however, said there was room for improvement.

The sources said it was necessary to not only be clean but also appear to be clean. The armed forces at present follow a pyramidal structure for promotion. While at the bottom, there are a number of officers, the numbers are narrowed as they go up.