Sanjha Morcha

Month on, Western Command under ad hoc arrangement

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2

The operationally crucial Western Command continues to function under an ad hoc arrangement over a month after the last General Officer Commanding-in-Chief retired, a situation described in some quarters as unprecedented and intriguing.Lt Gen Ashok Ambre, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Yol-based 9 Corps was today named the new officiating Western Army Commander after Lt Gen JS Cheema, GOC 11 Corps, Jalandhar, who was appointed as the officiating Commander when Lt Gen KJ Singh retired on August 31, moved to Army Headquarters as the Director General (Infantry).Lt Gen BS Sahrawat, a December 1980-batch officer from the Kumaon Regiment who was earlier serving as Director General (Land, Works and Environment) at Army Headquarters, took over as the GOC 11 Corps today.Lt Gen Ambre is the senior most of the three corps commander in the Western Command. Army sources said the orders for the appointment of a regular Army Commander are expected to be issued soon.Two Lieutenant Generals — DR Soni, an Armoured Corps Officer who commanded Bathinda-based 10 Corps and Surinder Singh, a Mechanised Infantry (Guards) Officer who commanded 33 Corps in Silliguri — are slated to be elevated as Army Commanders. Lt Gen Soni, the senior of the two, is tipped for taking over as the GOC-in-C, Army Training Command at Shimla, a post which fell vacant on September 1.Lt Gen Surinder is tipped for heading the Western Command at Chandimandir. Pending their new appointments, both officers are at present attached to different formations after having completed their tenures as Corps Commanders. Lt Gen Soni had relinquished charge as Corps Commander in June end, while Lt Gen Surinder Singh moved out from Silliguri last week.

New officiating incharge

  • Lt Gen Ashok Ambre, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Yol-based 9 Corps was on Friday named the newofficiating Western Army Commander
  • Lt Gen JS Cheema, GOC 11 Corps, Jalandhar, appointed as the officiating Commander after Lt Gen KJ Singh retired, moves to Army Headquarters as Director General (Infantry)