MS BRANCH-JISKI LATHI USKI BHAINS?

The recent judgement of the Chandigarh bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal has once again laid bare the manner in which those who know how the system works are able to take advantage of it.

The shenanigans which take place in the MS branch has time and again been laid bare by the judicial system yet no measures have been taken to ensure that careers of officers are not harmed because of the loopholes in the branch.

I had some time back written a blog on this very issue pointing out how MS branch plays with the careers of officers.

Senior officers cannot escape the blame by pointing out the collusion of those down below the chain of command. The onus of seeing that the MS branch functions properly is not only with that of MS but also that of the Chief of Army Staff.

If deserving officers are losing out on promotions because of faults in the system then it is high time that the system is corrected. Else, the adverse effect on the morale of the officer cadre will someday be too obvious to ignore.

Given below is the time line of the case in hand pertaining to Brig T Parshad of the JAG branch and it lays bare the callousness with which deserving officers have got sidelined while he got all the favours.

May 2012   -   One additional vacancy of Maj Gen in the JAG Branch announced taking the total vacancies of Maj Gen to two. There were now 4 contenders for the two vacancies out of which Brig T Parshad (Dy JAG Central Command) was the junior-most.

June 2012   -   Brig T Parshad floats a statutory complaint stating that his ACRs should be expunged and he be granted relief in his career profile.

Sept 2012   -    Selection Board for the rank of Maj Gen of JAG Branch was supposed to be held in Sept 2012 but is postponed.

15^th Oct to 19^th Oct 2012 – Selection Boards of various Arms and Services scheduled and Board for the two vacancies of Maj Gen in JAG Branch was supposed to be held on the second last day, that is, 18^th Oct.

16^th Oct 2012  -  Out of the blue and totally out of turn, Brig T Parshad is given relief and his ACR as was challenged by him, is expunged. Normally the Army HQ/MoD take about 6 to 12 months to dispose statutory complaints related to ACRs but in this case, the same is done in about 4 months out of turn whereas complaints for redressal of many officers of various Arms and Services who had filed them much earlier than this officer were pending as on date and some remain pending even today.

17^th Oct 2012   -  The order granting relief to the officer is sent to the MS Branch on the eve of the selection board and the new career profile is inserted into the dossier and record of Brig T Parshad stealthily thereby improving his record to enable him steal a march over the others by shifting the goalposts of the selection. Over the day, evening and night, the records are changed whereas policy clearly provides that all records are supposed to be frozen 5 days prior to the Selection Board meaning thereby that records were to be frozen and could not be tampered with after 10^th October 2012 (15^th Oct was the first date of the Selection Board process). If we take the last date of the Board, that is, 19^th Oct 2012, then the records were to be frozen by 14^th Oct 2012, both dates are prior to the date on which even the relief was granted to the officer thereby rendering the inclusion of his changed profile in the board, illegal.

18^th Oct 2012  -  the Selection Board for the rank of Maj Gen of JAG is postponed by a day. The insertion of the changed profile of the officer is completed in a clandestine manner and the MDS (Master Data Sheet) is also illegally amended.

19^th Oct 2012 – Selection Board is held and Brig N Khanna (the current ADG Litigation) and Brig T Parshad are empanelled for the rank of Maj Gen. As a result, Brig T Parshad, based on his freshly changed profile, supersedes his two seniors – Brig Dinkar Adeeb and Brig PK Sharma. The members of the Selection Board are however not informed that the profile and marks of Brig T Parshad were changed overnight in contravention of rules that too after granting him out of turn relief again in contravention of policy.

Points which emerge:-

(a)   How could the policy letter No A/17151/MS 4 Coord dated 25/28 April 2009 (which provides that no inputs or change in profile can be taken on record 5 days prior to the board) be so brazenly contravened and flouted without any inkling to the military top brass or members of the board?

(b)  How could the officer be granted out-of-turn relief in just about 4 months in contravention of policy letter No 04480/MS Policy dated 26 Sept 2005 whereas the cases of many other army officers remained pending for a period of more than 6 months to one year with some complaints not even being decided for years together.

(c)  Is it a fact that since JAG officers are controlling major key appointments in the Army HQ including the Military Secretary’s branch (MS Branch) an element of manipulation, deceit and tampering of records and policy is creeping in especially in the case of JAG Branch? Why does the top military and ministry brass remain unaware of tampering and interference of records by JAG officers, is there no system of checks and balances or has nepotism encompassed the entire system?

(d)  Similar flouting of policy and manipulation in the selection board for the rank of Brig was pointed out to the AFT by officers of the JAG branch after which the MoD took suo-moto action and cancelled the board and ordered its re-convening. (Also Recorded in an earlier Court order) thereby giving relief to affected officers, why weren’t checks and balances introduced at that time.  

(e)  Many petitions concerning nepotism in the JAG Branch remain pending before various benches of AFT, has the system taken note of the allegations and ordered any inquiry or corrective measures?

(f)    What message are the seniors who are indulging in flouting of policy and rules and manipulation giving to young officers of the organisation? Jiski laathi uski bhains? Is this the future of the younger generation, especially of the JAG Branch?

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHINESE INTRUSION EVIDENCE IN ARUNACHAL

Recently there was a fresh intrusion by PLA in Arunachal Pradesh. The Chinese came in with platoon strength troops and stayed out for several days before a flag meeting was held and they finally retreated. As per information available, Indian troops too remained in the area till the PLA left and accordingly a platoon of an infantry battalion stayed put.

As per highly placed sources, who kept the information flowing out from the area despite a virtual gag order, the PLA came well prepared to stay on for a prolonged period of time and were accompanied by porters who carried tents and other supplies.

Quite predictably, the public relations apparatus of the Army denied the fresh PLA foray and tried its best to downplay the entire incident. Their knee-jerk response is understandable because of the massive public furore in the country after the Depsang incident in Ladakh. And with the Parliament in session, any leaking of this new incident would have been extremely harmful for the government.

Certain section of the media, however, did their job and brought out the reports pertaining to the fact that the PLA was deep into Arunachal and was refusing to go back. Many others in the media, however, chose to remain silent and complied with the requests of whoever wanted them to stay mum.

However, what has now come to light is the fact that this was not the first time that the Chinese have come into this area and showed their strength. They were here earlier in the year too and left tell-tale signs of their stay. Discarded cigarette packs, candy packets, eatables packs, slogans painted on the trees, rocks etc were discovered by Indian troops and were well documented in the form of photographs.

It is these photographs, evidence of earlier intrusion, which are being put up in this blog. Hitherto unseen evidence of PLA deliberately leaving their tell-tale signs of illegal stay in Indian territory. These signs are also left in a similar manner in other areas where the PLA deliberately enters into the Indian side of the LAC-Himachal, Uttarakhand and Ladakh.

Silence and cover-ups will not make the problem go away. This ostrich-like attitude will harm the nation. But those who do not understand long term implications and are just interested in protecting their own interests, will not understand this.

The pictures speak for themselves.

PANEL OF OFFICERS APPROVED FOR PROMOTION TO THE ACTING RANK OF MAJ GEN

The results of the No. 1 Selection Board, which was held on April 12 and 13,  2013, have been de-classified by the Military Secretary's Branch.

The panel of officers approved for promotion includes officers of 1980 batch considered as Special Review-Fresh, officers of 1981 batch and First review cases of 1980 batch.

The following is the list of officers:


PANEL OF OFFICERS APPROVED FOR PROMOTION TO THE ACTING RANK OF MAJ 
GEN IN THE ‘COMMAND & STAFF’ STREAM AND ‘STAFF ONLY’ STREAM : GEN CADRE

SPECIAL REVIEW (FRESH) CASES – 1980 BATCH
1 IC39101 BRIG MA OKA                                     MAHAR                        'C&S'
2 IC39342 BRIG RAJESH SAHAI, SM                  DOGRA                          'Staff Only'

FRESH CASES – 1981 BATCH
3 IC39434 BRIG MS KOHLI                                  ARMD                             'C&S'
4 IC39436 BRIG SK SAINI, YSM, VSM               JAT                                  'C&S'
5 IC39437 BRIG ST UPASANI, SM, VSM            JAT                                  'C&S'
6 IC39438 BRIG PC THIMMAYA                         MECH INF                      'C&S'
7 IC39445 BRIG SS HASABNIS                            ENGRS(GC)                    'C&S'
8 IC39458 BRIG AP DERE                                     ARMD                              'C&S'
9 IC39465 BRIG AS BEDI, VSM                           GARH RIF                        'C&S'
10 IC39492 BRIG A CHAUHAN, VSM                 11 GR                               'C&S'
11 IC39521 BRIG YT JAIN                                   ARTY(GC)                         'C&S'
12 IC39522 BRIG JS NEGI, VSM**                     DOGRA                              'C&S'
13 IC39590 BRIG H THUKRAL                            SIKH LI                              'C&S'
14 IC39607 BRIG IS GHUMAN                           GUARDS                             'C&S'
15 IC39624 BRIG PM BALI, VSM                        PUNJAB                             'C&S'
16 IC39675 BRIG VIJAY SINGH, SM                  9 GR                                    'C&S'
17 IC39676 BRIG DVS RANA, SM, VSM           JAK LI                                  'C&S'
18 IC39864 BRIG VD DOGRA                            ARMD                                   'C&S'
19 IC39868 BRIG S SRIVASTAVA                     ARTY(GC)                            'C&S'
20 IC39871 BRIG SK UPADHAYA, SM             GARH RIF                             'C&S'
21 IC39874 BRIG TARANJIT SINGH                 ARMD                                    'C&S'
22 IC39879 BRIG AK DHAR, SM**                   PARA                                     'C&S'
23 IC39909 BRIG PS SANDHU                          MECH INF                             'C&S'
24 IC39929 BRIG SARANJEET SINGH             SIKH LI                                   'C&S'
25 IC39956 BRIG GS SANGHA, SM, VSM       GRENADIERS                         'C&S'
26 IC39992 BRIG ANOOP KUMAR V               MARATHA LI                         'C&S'
27 IC40007 BRIG YVK MOHAN, SM               11 GR                                        'C&S'
28 IC40022 BRIG AK BHATT, VSM                  9 GR                                          'C&S'
29 IC40098 BRIG DUSHYANT SINGH             MARATHA LI                            'C&S'
30 IC40101 BRIG RK JAGGA                            ARMD                                        'C&S'
31 IC40133 BRIG SC MESTON, VSM               MAHAR                                     'C&S'
32 IC40235 BRIG R GOPAL, SM                       8 GR                                           'C&S'

FIRST REVIEW CASES – 1980 BATCH
33 IC38711 BRIG VINOD KUMAR, VSM        MECH INF                               'Staff Only'
34 IC38714 BRIG RS MALAVE                         ARMD                                      'Staff Only'
35 IC39299 BRIG J BHATI                                MECH INF                                'Staff Only'
36 IC39321 BRIG AK SHUKLA, VSM             RAJ RIF                                     'Staff Only'

FRESH CASES – 1981 BATCH
37 IC38796 BRIG SUNIL YADAV, YSM            JAK RIF                                  'Staff Only'
38 IC39229 BRIG D AGNIHOTRI                       MECH INF                              'Staff Only'
39 IC39435 BRIG SANJIV BAJAJ                       ENGRS(GC)                            'Staff Only'
40 IC39450 BRIG AMRITPAL SINGH                ARMD                                     'Staff Only'
41 IC39457 BRIG MS GHURA, VSM                 RAJ RIF                                    'Staff Only'
42 IC39472 BRIG JK MARWAL                         GRENADIERS                          'Staff Only'
43 IC39491 BRIG AK DAS, SC                           SIKH                                         'Staff Only'
44 IC39500 BRIG CE FERNANDES, SM            BIHAR                                      'Staff Only'
45 IC39572 BRIG S JETLEY, VSM                      RAJPUT                                    'Staff Only'
46 IC39598 BRIG G JAISHANKAR                    MAHAR                                     'Staff Only'
47 IC39609 BRIG A OHRI                                   KUMAON                                 'Staff Only'
48 IC39621 BRIG RK BHARDWAJ                    ARTY (GC)                                'Staff Only'
49 IC39655 BRIG H JONEJA                              8 GR                                           'Staff Only'
50 IC39656 BRIG D SHARMA, VSM                 4 GR                                           'Staff Only'
51 IC39673 BRIG JS YADAV, SM                     ARMD                                        'Staff Only'
52 IC39780 BRIG KK PANT                              RAJ RIF                                      'Staff Only'
53 IC39930 BRIG VPS BHAKUNI, VSM          DOGRA                                      'Staff Only'
54 IC39988 BRIG MK YADAV                         GARH RIF                                   'Staff Only'
55 IC40240 BRIG V NANGIA, SM                    KUMAON                                  'Staff Only'

NYOMA COURT OF INQUIRY FACTS REVEALED-WAS ATTEMPTED RAPE THE TRIGGER TO THE UPRISING?

Access to exclusive documents has now for the first time revealed the sequence of events which led to the unprecedented brawl between officers and jawans of 226 Field Regiment in Nyoma in Ladakh in May last year. The three-member inquiry was conducted by Brig Ajay Talwar, Colonel Ajit Singh and Colonel NK Kanotra.

The documents are a part of the Army’s Court of Inquiry held after the shocking incident. As a result of the fall-out of this inquiry, an unprecedented 168 troops of the regiment will be facing a general court martial. They include four officers, including the commanding officer of the regiment, Col P Kadam, 17 Junior Commissioned Officrs and 147 jawans.

The documents accessed include crucial statements of key witnesses in the court of inquiry which has led the Army to find out the exact reasons behind the break-down of discipline in the regiment which was deployed for field firing in Ladakh. These statements include that of the Commanding Officer, Col Prasad Kadam, wife of a Major, a jawan accused of rape, depositions of medical experts and a crucial report of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh.

The most crucial of all is the testimony of the wife of a Major who has alleged that one jawan of the regiment attempted to rape her in the absence of her husband. This alleged attempted rape has become the bed-rock of the inquiry and it has been suggested by various witnesses that everything else that followed in the regiment was as a result of this.

The lady, whose name is being withheld to protect her identity, has described in detail how the jawan detailed as Sahayak to her husband tried to rape her. She stated this in categorical terms when specifically asked by members of the Court of Inquiry. The lady also told the court that while fighting off the jawan she had hit him with a torch as a result of which he bled. The evidence of bleeding on the lady’s garments were sent to CFSL Chandigarh for matching the samples given by the Sahayak and the report of the laboratory stated that the possibility of the samples coming from the lady and the Sahayak could not be excluded.

In his deposition to the court, the Jawan accused of attempting to rape the lady has stoutly denied the same and has attributed the bleeding and blood stain to an injury sustained while moving he luggage of the officer and his wife. He has instead alleged that he entered the room to switch off the kerosene heater and found the door unlatched. He alleges that the lady was changing her clothes at the time, without securing the door, and got angry with him and abused him. The Sahayak has alleged in his statement that he was beaten up by three officers later in the evening. It is alleged that it was this beating and denial of initial medical aid to the jawan which enraged other jawans of the regiment and caused them to turn on their officers.

Witnesses have also testified that enraged jawans raised slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Inqulab Zindabad, 226 Field Regiment ki Jai on the occasion. They also raised slogans like ‘Raksha Mantri ko Bulaya jae” and “Media ko bulaya jae” when two senior officers visited to pacify the angry jawans. They also demanded that the three offices who beat the jawan should be handed over to them.

During the course of the inquiry the CO, Col Prasad Kadam, also revealed that there was permission to move the wives of the officers only till Darbuk and not till Nyoma. Col Kadam admitted that he allowed them to be moved to Nyoma because they would have been “alone” in Darbuk. Col Kadam also gave details of how he was assaulted by troops of his regiment and hit with stones till he lost consciousness.

Various witnesses have made statements to the effect that three officers badly thrashed the Sahayak. It is, perhaps, keeping in mind all these circumstances that the Army has ordered the court martial of these officers along with the CO.

Meanwhile, the Army has ordered the Summary of Evidence in this case as the next step leading, eventually, to a trial of all the accused officers and jawans.

PUNJAB POLICE APES INDIAN ARMY COMBAT FATIGUES

The issue of various state police forces, and para-military forces too, wearing combat fatigues has been much debated over the past few years. The para-military forces are now commonly deployed in counter-insurgency operations and need to wear disruptive pattern uniforms for obvious reasons. In fact, all para-military forces, be it BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF or SSB, have evolved their own pattern of disruptive pattern which is absolutely distinct from the one used by the Indian Army.

The Army too has gone in for a standard pattern of the fatigues which bear the insignia of the Indian Army distinctly on the cloth at regular intervals. This was done in order to ensure that no one is able to ape the Army fatigues, especially in counter-insurgency operations, where militants often dressed up as Army personnel and attacked military targets.

However, much to my surprise I saw the same uniform being worn by women cops of the Punjab Police. The occasion as the launch of s special women's task force launched by the Punjab government to counter crimes against women, especially eve-teasing in front of schools and colleges. The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, launched the special task force in the presence of the Director General of Punjab Police, Sumedh Singh Saini, and other senior police officials.

(Note the IndArmy insignia on the sleeve)

It was indeed shocking to see that the Punjab Police had copied the disruptive pattern of the Army down to the last T. The uniforms even had the Indian Army watermark, complete with the insignia. It appears that the Punjab Police acquired the cloth wholesale from some vendor who also supplies to the Army and then went ahead and got the uniforms stitched for its women cops.   

These women cops are supposed to be 'Commandos', given the flashes they wear on their arms. These 'Commandos' go around on scooters and motorcycles, wearing these combat fatigues to deter eve-teasers and those who may harass women. While the intention is noble, it is not understood why they had to wear Indian Army fatigues to achieve the same. Is it because Khaki is not macho enough? Is it because Khaki does not inspire the same awe and respect that olive green does? Or is it simply the brain-child of someone who thought he could get away by aping Army uniform? Whatever may be the case, it is an offence which has been committed and the Army must take note of it and protest.

It is all the more interesting that the contingent of this special task force which was flagged off also had women cops dressed in Khakis and in a new blue coloured uniform too. Their task is also similar to these  'Commandos' but for some unknown reason they do not get to don the fatigues.

While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, the Punjab Police seems to be taking it too far. The DGP's flag wears three stars on it. A replica of what the Army has started doing to reflect the status of the flag-ranked officer. The previous DGP was a step ahead. He even had a Ashoka emblem on the flag along with three stars trying to bring himself to the equivalent of an Army Commander or GOC-in-C. Mercifully, the present incumbent has refrained from doing so.

Western Command must raise this issue in the next military liaison conference and sensitise the state government and Punjab Police on sanctity of uniforms.

WORSHIPING FALSE HEROES

"SANAWAR: Keeping the century old bonding alive with the glorious past of Indian armed forces, Lawrence School Sanawar on Monday unveiled, in its premises, the bust of Major William Stephen Rakes Hodson who has the distinction of raising Indian Army's prestigious 'Hodson horse'".

It was this innocuous story, buried in the inside pages of The Times of India which made me put down my cup of tea this morning and take note. Apart from the fact that the reporter has faithfully reproduced the press note issued by the school/Army down to the last sycophantic word, the fact that a murderer has once again been glorified disturbed me.

I have written previously in this blog on how many persons, of considerable eminence, have considered it wrong for Major Hodson to find a place of prominence in the the name of one of the most illustrious armoured regiments of the Indian Army. In fact, I had widely quoted Lt Gen SK Sinha, former Vice Chief of Army Staff, who had written in his memoirs of his attempts to convince 4 Horse to get rid of the name of Maj Hodson from their regimental crest, but to no avail.

Several vitriolic replies were received on the subject and most of them have been printed. That however does not deter me from expressing my views again on the preposterous bust-unveiling which has taken place in Sanawar by a Lt General who is GOC 9 Corps. I am more outraged by the fact that the only other bust in the school is that of the young martyr of the 1971 war, 2/Lt Arun Khetarpal, PVC and that the murderer Hodson now gets a place of pride next to him.

What could be more dichotomous than having two busts which are absolutely at cross-purposes with each other. One that of a national hero who laid down his life defending the country 40 years ago and another of a colonial master who repressed the First War of Independence with as much force as he could.

Hodson may indeed have played a role in establishing the school at Sanawar but what purpose does it serve to display his bust in the school? Does the school tell its students about the dubious role played by him while putting down the first Indian War of Independence in 1857 when he murdered the two sons of Bahadur Shah Zafar? Do they inform the students of the dubious nature of his character as stated by Lt Gen SK Sinha in his book? Why should he be glorified at all. His association with the school, as with the regiment, should be a footnote in history of both and need not be highlighted beyond that point. His association with both is a fact of history and must be acknowledged as such but to glorify him is sickening.

But the inherent flaws in our thinking and how we revere anything British when it comes to traditions in our schools and regimental institutions have led to the unveiling of this bust. It is time which acts come under scrutiny and are derided for whatever they are worth. These should not go uncommented or unnoticed. It is nothing but a misplaced sense of regimental honour when the name of a murderer is not removed from the regimental crest and when the officers of the regiment go about establishing the bust of the same murderer in schools.

They will not be allowed to manipulate history. Villains can never be heroes. Even if they have armoured regiments named after them.  

THE GOLD CARD RIP-OFF IN CSD

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others"

-George Orwell

A unique investigation is underway by the Ministry of Defence regarding misuse of CSD smart cards by senior retired officers of the Army.
As per the information relayed, data is being collected on the gross misuse of gold cards which are allotted to retired Chief of Army Staff along with the officers of the rank of Army Commanders. The investigation by MoD has revealed that some senior retired officers are in possession of more than one smart card. These Gold cards entitle them to unlimited purchase through CSD.
It is learnt that the Army HQs too is seized of the matter and it is being ascertained as to how more than one such card was issued in first place and where and at which CSD canteen were these being used. It is learnt that very heavy purchases were being effected by these cards every month and that this has raised eyebrows.
The fact that retired service chiefs names have also surfaced in the course of the digging up of data, has left the Army HQs a but surprised.
However, all those who may jump to conclusions and start pointing accusatory fingers at the retired brass of the rank of Army Commanders and COAS, there are a few good men left still. The MoD has found that there are many officers who chose not to avail the facility of unlimited purchase given by the Gold Card. I have been able to find out the names of two such individuals who has chosen to surrender their Gold cards and have asked that they be provided the normal purchase power as due to their rank.
My sources inform me that two such officers are Lt Gen HS Panag (retd), former Northern and Central Army Commander and Lt Gen AK Singh (retd) who has recently retired from service as Southern Army Commander.
Individuals like these deserve to be saluted for their honest and upright approach. Equally, one would like the names of those to be made public, those who have more than one privelege card and have been making purchases worth an atrocious sums of money. Normally  the Army would very easily deny that any such thing has happened. However, since the investigation is being done by the MoD, there is slim chance of the Army spin dims getting a chance of cover-up.
All such mindless cards should be immediately withdrawn and only the purchase limit authorised by rank should be put into effect. There should not be any silly limitless purchase power because it lends itself to misuse and this is precisely what has been happening.
The Ministry of Defence will do well to institute corrective action and immediately withdraw or cancel the Gold Cards.