MoD rejects Bimal Verma’s petition challenging appointment of Navy Chief

New Delhi, May 18

The Ministry of Defence  today rejected Vice Admiral Bimal Verma’s petition challenging the appointment of Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next Navy Chief, overlooking his seniority.

In its order, the defence ministry said the appointment was made considering all laid-down norms, asserting that seniority can’t be the only criterion for the selection.

Verma had moved a military tribunal questioning Vice Admiral Singh’s appointment and the tribunal on April 26 gave three weeks to the ministry to decide on Verma’s petition.

The defence ministry said a robust selection procedure was followed for selecting the next Navy Chief and that the petitioner was found unsuitable for the top post.

Verma, the senior-most naval commander, had moved the Armed Forces Tribunal last month after the defence ministry did not respond to his statutory complaint. The AFT is scheduled to hear the case on Monday.

Verma is at present serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. In his petition, Verma wondered why he was overlooked for the top post.

The government had in March named Singh as the next Chief of Naval Staff, to succeed Admiral Sunil Lanba, who retires on May 30.

Verma is the brother of former Navy Chief Nirmal Kumar Verma. — PTI