Army Brigadiers have been given a promotion on the orders of the Supreme Court.

New Delhi, June 6

Four years after two Army Brigadiers retired, they have been given a promotion on the orders of the Supreme Court, which has also questioned why the two officers were not promoted at the first instance in 2015.

The Military Secretary Branch of the Indian Army has issued orders to promote Brig NK Bhatia and Brig VN Chaturvedi as Maj Generals. Besides the promotion, their retirement and pensionary benefits will be upgraded.

No adverse report, they told apex court

• Brig NK Bhatia, Brig VN Chaturvedi promoted as Maj Generals
• After approaching AFT, the duo filed an appeal before the SC, saying they were not promoted despite having no adverse report
• Since both have crossed 58 yrs (retirement age of Maj Gen), they will not rejoin force

Following the intervention of the apex court, a special review board was conducted for the two officers. Since both have crossed 58 years, the retirement age of Maj General, they will not rejoin the force. The two were first considered, along with their batch for promotion in 2015, but were not promoted. Maj General Bhatia was from Intelligence Corps and Maj General Chaturvedi from Education Corps. A Brigadier retires at 57 years of age while a Maj General retires at 58 years. Had the two been promoted in 2015, they would have served till 2019 and would have also been in the race, subject to vacancy and their performance, for the next promotion to the rank of Lt General.

The duo first approached the Armed Forces Tribunal, which dismissed the plea, saying it was the discretion of the Army to promote or not promote an officer.

After that, the two officers then filed an appeal before the Supreme Court in 2017, saying that both of them were not promoted despite having no adverse or negative report. — TNS