CoSC baton transfer off at last minute

New Delhi, December 27

In what hints that the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) will be appointed anytime soon, a pre-scheduled ceremony to appoint the chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) has been postponed by the Ministry of Defence. The CoSC comprises chiefs of the Army, Navy and the Air Force and the senior-most among them is appointed its chairman.

It is headed by Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat currently and the next man to take over would have been Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh. The ceremony was slated today, but with an announcement on December 24 detailing the charter of the CDS, the appointment of the new CoSC would be redundant. The CDS would be permanent chairman of the CoSC.

The ceremony to hand over the baton of the CoSC chairman was cancelled at the last minute on Friday, sources said, adding it could take place on December 31.

There was an indication that the ceremony was cancelled as the government was likely to appoint the country’s first CDS, thus General Rawat handing over the charge would have been pointless.

General Rawat is the frontrunner for the post of CDS, who will act as the principal military adviser to the Defence Minister on matters relating to the three services. General Rawat took charge as CoSC chairman from then IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa on September 27. — TNS