Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 13

With a fortnight to go for the Army and Air Force Chiefs to retire, the announcement of their successors is the talk of the South Block here.Such appointments, normally, are made four to five weeks in advance. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said the file for the appointment of the new Army Chief was with the PMO. The name is announced after the selection by the PMO is formally approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha will retire on December 31. If the government goes by seniority, Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi (Eastern Army Commander) and Air Marshal BS Dhanoa (Vice-Chief of the Air Force) stand to become the Army and IAF Chiefs. Though the matter of appointing the Army Chief, who commands around 1.3 million men, or the IAF Chief, who commands a fleet of some 1,300 planes and helicopters, is rarely discussed among services personnel, the “unprecedented delay” has become a topic of debate. Other than rare exceptions, the government goes by the principle of seniority.Lt Gen Bakshi is from the Armoured Corps, the 1st Horse (Skinners Horse). Air Marshal Dhanoa is a fighter pilot who commanded a fighter squadron during the Kargil conflict. He is the son of a former Punjab Chief Secretary SS Dhanoa. The delay in making the announcement has led to a speculation that someone else could be considered in place of Lt Gen Bakshi. His immediate junior is Lt Gen PM Hariz, who heads the Southern Command, while the next in line is Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, the Vice-Chief of the Army. The last time an Army commander was superseded was when Gen AS Vaidya was appointed Chief in July 1983. His senior Lt Gen SK Sinha had quit in protest.The need for an announcement four to five weeks in advance arises as the new Army Chief needs to be briefed by his predecessor.