In a 1.3 million strong Indian army, there is a discrepancy about the date of birth of one officer. In Military Secretary’s (MS) branch the date of birth is May 10, 1950 while in Adjutant General’s (AG) branch it is May 10, 1951. This information was entered over three decades ago. In a mountain load of paperwork in such a large bureaucracy, it could be a simple clerical error of no significance. However, this simple clerical error first became a storm in the tea cup that eventually became a real storm. In its aftermath, we are now witnessing ruined careers, bitter fights among senior officers, damaging leaks of sensitive documents, accusations of tinkering with promotion system, strain on civil military relations and bruised image of Indian army. The officer at the center of this controversy is none other than the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Vijay Kumar Singh (2 Rajput Regiment nick named Kali Chindi).
I became aware of the date of birth controversy in 2007 long before VK Singh was in the run for COAS position and had some misgivings knowing a little bit how the chairs are arranged at the deck. I wrote in 2008 “A controversy erupted when it was disclosed that V. K. Singh had discrepancy in his date of birth in different documents (May 10, 1950 vs. May 10, 1951). Records from Military Secretary’s and Adjutant General’s branches were leaked showing different dates of births. Singh would still be the senior most general in the race for the top slot but a year difference will shorten his tenure as army chief. It is alleged that some senior generals who may benefit from a shorter tenure of V. K. Singh may have leaked the information. Some of them have raised written objections about the issue and we may see some mudslinging in near future”. (Hamid Hussain. Indian Military Command Structure, Defence Journal, April 2008, http://www.defencejournal.com/2008-4/contents.asp)
The main reason of the conflict is related to the succession of VK Singh. In Indian army, Lieutenant General retries at the age of 60 while retirement age of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is 62. Traditionally, senior most Lieutenant General is selected as COAS therefore it is very easy to predict who is in line for the top slot (the only exception was when in 1983 Lieutenant General AS Vaidya was selected COAS superseding his senior Lieutenant General SK Sinha). VK Singh’s date of birth has an impact on the succession. If 1950 is accepted he will retire in May 2012 and head of Eastern Command Lieutenant General Bikram Singh (Sikh Light Infantry) being the senior most general will succeed him. However, if 1951 is accepted then VK Singh will retire in May 2013 and the senior most Lieutenant General at that time would be head of Northern Command Lieutenant General K T Parnaik (Bikram would have retried by that time reaching the retirement age of 60 in late 2012). After a bitter fight VK Singh lost the battle and recently government announced that VK Singh will retire on May 31, 2012 and Lieutenant General Bikram Singh will succeed him.
The real story starts with two previous Chiefs of Army Staff attempting to clear the line of succession. In 2006, VK Singh was the Chief of Staff (COS) of a Corps in Northern Command and was ready to take over the command of Ambala based II Corps. Then COAS General Jogindar Jaswant Singh (9 Marhatta Light Infantry) insisted that V K Singh accept 1950 as his year of birth. The reason was that JJ Singh wanted a shortened tenure of VK Singh ending in 2012 thus ensuring elevation of a fellow Sikh Lieutenant General Bikram Singh as next COAS. (Sudha Ramachandran. Plot seen in Indian army chief’s age row. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/NA14Df01.html) Some allege that VK Singh was summoned to Army Headquarters and told in no uncertain terms that if army played the discrepancy of date of birth with Ministry of Defence (MOD), it could damage VK Singh’s career. It was made clear to him that he will become COAS in due time but with two year tenure and asked to accept 1950 as his year of birth. VK Singh willingly put down in writing that whatever Army Headquarter decides will be acceptable to him in the larger interest of the Army. JJ Singh retired in September 2007 and General Deepak Kapoor (Artillery) took over as COAS. In 2008, VK Singh was now due to get an army command. Kapoor got him to sign again before appointing him GOC-in-C of Eastern Army Command. (http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/SRR/2010/75-The-Controversy-over-the-Army-Chiefs-Age.html)
It is also alleged that it was promised to VK Singh that they will take care of the issue of his date of birth in due time. VK Singh has admitted that he had asked two former Chief’s; JJ Singh and Deepak Kapoor for correction of his date of birth but no action was taken. Although on two previous occasions, VK Singh had put in writing that he will abide by army’s decision;
By 2009 VK Singh was now confident that no one could stop his appointment as next COAS. He was upset at reluctance of Kapoor to settle the issue and he started to strike back. By late 2009, the clash between Kapoor and VK Singh had become quite obvious. In August 2009, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor (Artillery) recommended Lt. General P. C. Bhardwaj (First Para Battalion) as Vice Chief of Army Staff instead of Lieutenant General V K Singh who was the senior most Lt. General at the time.
This started the rumor mill in Delhi that this recommendation showed Kapoor’s preference for next Chief.
In 2009, VK Singh then Eastern Army Commander started a Court Of Inquiry (COI) into what came to be known as Sukhna land scandal. Military authorities issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for construction of educational facilities by a private developer near the military station. It was not military land and involvement of military officers was only issuing NOC and signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with state government. It was alleged that then Military Secretary Lieutenant General Avadesh Prakash (Kumaon Regiment) asked then 33rd Corp Commander Lieutenant General Prashant Kumar Rath to issue NOC and the later complied without informing his boss VK Singh. Chief of Staff of 33rd Corps Ramesh Halgali brought the issue to the notice of higher authorities. COI indicted Rath and Prakash and recommended court martial of both officers. It should be kept in mind that there were no charges of any financial irregularities but simply not following existing rules. It was case of construction of facilities by a private developer on a land that belonged to state government. Military authorities came into picture for simply raising no objection to the project as land was close to a military station. Prakash got into additional trouble when an inquiry by Central Command found some financial irregularities in Kumaon Regimental Center at Ranikhet and indicted seven officers including a Major General. Prakash got entangled in this controversy as he was then Colonel Commandant of the Kumaon Regiment. Kapoor tried to only take administrative action rather than court martial of the officers but MOD sided with VK Singh and both officers were court martialed.
Kapoor vented his own anger by censuring Halgali and put the censure in his Annual Confidential Report (ACR) obstructing his career prospects. In late 2011, VK Singh recommended him for Deputy Chief of Army Staff (DCOAS) position but Kapoor’s censure in ACR was the roadblock. On army’s recommendation, MOD expunged the censure from Halgali’s ACR thus clearing his path. (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/govt-clears-lt-gens-name-in-sukna-scam-app/911546/) In 2011, General VK Singh ordered another COI into Mumbai’s Adarsh Housing Society scandal. Land was allotted for veterans of Kargil War of 1999 in Bombay but when construction of flats was completed several senior officers were given these flats instead of Kargil veterans. In March 2011, army COI indicted two former Chiefs; Deepak Kapoor and NC Vij, four lieutenant generals (Tejinder Singh, P.K. Rampal, G.S. Sihota & Shantanu Choudhry) and four major generals (V.S. Yadav, Ram Kunwar Hooda, A.R. Kumar and Tej Kishen Kaul) and recommended that Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) should probe the matter. (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/adarsh-scam-court-of-inquiry-indicts-ex-army-chiefs-general-deepak-kapoor-and-general-nc-vij/1/133209.html)
The real damage to the institution stems from the grievous charge that somehow army chief General JJ Singh engaged in a ‘look down policy’ to determine the ‘line of succession’ to the top position in the Army to favor a fellow Sikh. They allege that a detailed plan nick named ‘Operation Moses’ (suggesting that like the Old testament story the Chief would part the waters for Bikram Singh to smoothly walk through to become Chief) looking at the careers of many officers was started by JJ Singh. Bikram was Brigadier at that time and there were lot of variables to be considered. It is alleged that a number of qualified officers seen as threat to Bikram’s advancement were sidelined. (http://www.theweekendleader.com/Causes/1022/adhocracy-reigns.html)
The names of five officers from Bikram’s batch who were sidelined to favor him have been cited as proof of this plot. These officers were Brigadiers Padam Budhwar and MM Chaudhary and Majors Generals AK Singh, Shujjan Chatterjee, and Ravi Arora. (http://thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=400557&catid=38) Arora’s case is interesting and raises many questions. He was the gold medallist from his batch and he was passed over for promotion from Brigadier to Major General in 2005. He made a representation against the promotion board decision but no decision was taken. In May 2005, he lodged a statutory complaint with MOD that was accepted in 2006. However, he was again rejected by the next promotion board held in July 2006 (four other officers of the 1972 batch were also not considered for promotion). In a bizarre move, in the next promotion board meeting of November 2006, Arora was approved for promotion to Major General rank although he had not made any representation. However, promotion was approved with the condition that his seniority be decreased by one year considering him with 1973 batch. (http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?279633) Everyone deduced from this exercise that Arora was too good to be sidelined at Brigadier rank, however by this maneuver he was made junior to Bikram and thus now not a threat to Bikram’s advancement.
I have some doubts about this specific incident as JJ Singh become Chief in on January 31 and Arora’s first promotion board was held in February. It seems unlikely that the stage was set that early and JJ Singh could influence promotion board members. Even if other parts of the allegation are true, Arora may have been superseded as normal process. However, this allegation of tampering with system got credence when during VK Singh’s petition to Supreme Court, Attorney General Goolam Vahnavati in his letter to the Supreme Court opposing the V.K. Singh’s request for relevant official records to show his correct date of birth, referred to a mysterious “succession plan” that he said the authorities were determined to protect. (http://bharatkarnad.com/2012/02/10/armys-succession-plan/)
A large number of officers are considered for promotion at every rank and there are many details that may not be relevant to the decision of promotion. Indian army has close to one hundred Lieutenant Generals, about 300 Major Generals and over 1000 Brigadiers at any given time. I have re-constructed these events to the best of my knowledge and these may have been normal procedures of promotions and supersession. However, if this allegation is true and senior most officer of the army was engaged in this intrigue to simply favor a fellow Sikh and in the process damaged the careers of good officers then it is a bad omen for the Indian army. No soldier worth his salt can be proud of such dirty tricks.
In 2011, VK Singh submitted a statutory complaint asking MOD to correct his date of birth that was rejected. In January 2012, he took the unprecedented step and filed a petition in Supreme Court. The two member bench (Justices RM Lodha and HL Gokhale) gave clear indication that they will not accept VK Singh’s position thus forcing him to withdraw his petition. (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-11/india/31049524_1_bench-second-largest-army-final-decision) Now the rift was quite open between VK Singh and government and fissures within senior ranks. VK Singh accused former head of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) retired Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh and some officers in military intelligence directorate of leaking false information that General VK Singh had bugged offices of MOD. (http://news.in.msn.com/exclusives/it/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5940834) A Major General and Colonel of MI directorate was reported to be under investigation for leaking damaging information to media. (http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?contentId=11235156&programId=1073755753&tabId=13&categoryId=-173481) In another interview, VK Singh didn’t name Tajinder but it is quite clear from the details that Tejinder acting as lobbyist for a firm offered him Rs. 14 crore bribe to clear purchase of substandard army vehicles. (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3223758.ece?homepage=true)
After direct clash with the government and deciding to remain in office VK Singh has created an untenable situation for himself and many other officers. It is now direct confrontation between MOD and VK Singh that is being played at the cost of army. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has wisely stayed away from the controversy and let his defense minister handle the issue. Even an innocuous statement from the Prime Minister will allow his opponents to accuse him of favoring a fellow Sikh for COAS position.
MOD and army Chief are at loggerheads since 2010 regarding some changes in promotion policies. VK Singh wanted to change some of these policies promulgated during Deepak Kapoor’s time. In January 2011, VK Singh made changes in the ‘quantification process’ and promotion boards for Major General and Lieutenant General rank cleared all successful candidates for both command and staff. MOD bureaucracy resisted to clear the promotion board results. (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ajai-shukla-promoting-crisis-inmilitary/430916/) MOD bureaucrats were against this move but Defence Minister A K Antony approved it to avoid confrontation. (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/army-chief-defence-ministry-tussle-over-new-assam-rifles-chief/928182/0) In January 2012, MOD also objected to army’s recommendation of Lieutenant General Sanjiv Chachra (Rajput Regiment) for MS post. (http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Defence-ministry-rejects-Army-nominee-for-military-secretary/Article1-790298.aspx) However, later MOD relented and he was appointed MS. After these two concessions, it was quite clear that MOD will stand its ground now and Director General (DG) Assam Rifles issue provided the excuse for MOD to push back against VK Singh.
DG Assam Rifles comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) but army has operational control of the organization. Generally, DG’s name is sent to MHA through MOD. In December 2010, army headquarters sent three names for the post of DG Assam Rifles and Lieutenant General Rameshwar Roy (7 Jammu & Kashmir Infantry) was appointed. In December 2011, Roy was recalled by army headquarters on charges of financial irregularities (some personal expenses of hair cut and facials by his wife were charged to government exchequer) despite reservations by MHA and MOD. VK Singh then sent the name of his DGMO Lieutenant General Ashok Kumar Choudhry (5 Mahar) as Roy’s replacement directly to MHA bypassing MOD. As expected MOD first showed displeasure that it should have been routed through MOD and then rejected VK Singh’s recommendation on the pretext that Choudhry has less than two years remaining and asked him to send the list of three other officers. (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-24/india/31233254_1_mod-mha-army-headquarters) More important is the fact that Choudhry has been at the crucial position of DGMO for barely three months and shuffling senior officers at important positions after few months is not a healthy sign. VK Singh is clearly angry and his most recent move against a serving senior officer is bizarre. On March 22, army recommended to MOD to approve 3rd Corps Commander Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag for the post of Army Commander. A week later, VK Singh sent a request directly to CBI bypassing again MOD to investigate Suhag as he had found a year old letter of complaint against the officer sent by a member of parliament. Suhag is line for the race for COAS in 2014. (http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/General-VK-Singh-reloads-as-govt-looks-to-retreat/Article1-832379.aspx). The remaining two months of VK Singh’s tenure will be engulfed in these street brawls.
In date of birth case, evidence is in VK Singh’s favor as most documents show 1951 as his year of birth. However two factors went against VK Singh. First, the important Army List is based on MS branch records and the generally accepted rule is that in the absence of original birth certificate the Army List will be considered final. The second and more damaging is the fact that VK Singh had compromised his own case when he accepted 1951 as his year of birth on three crucial stages of his career; General Officer Commanding of II Corps in 2006, General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Command in 2008 and finally COAS in 2010. This fact has been cited by the Supreme Court bench when it forced VK Singh to withdraw his petition.
Ideally, he should have discussed the issue frankly with Defence Minister and once it was clear that government would not accept his case, he should have let it go. He should have refrained from going to Supreme Court and if he had decided to go the court he should have thought about his own course of action if case was decided against him. Even his admirers admit that after the court decision against him the only honorable way left for him was resignation. Unfortunately, not too many officers are known to resign on principles. If VK Singh had resigned, it would have been a win-win situation for him. He could claim that he resigned on principles and even his adversaries had to give him the credit. This would also prove to be a sweet revenge by toppling the applecart of succession. If he had resigned before February 28, senior most Lieutenant General AK Ahluwalia (Artillery) and after February 28, senior most Lieutenant General Shankar Ghosh (Brigade of Guards) would be likely candidates as his successors. Government had to either appoint senior most lieutenant general or break the precedent creating problems.
Critics of VK Singh allege that his tenure has been wasted on petty personal issues ignoring needs of the army. The most damaging effect has been on defence preparedness and fissures within senior ranks as well as general despondency among officers. MOD was not enthusiastic about changes in promotion policy to senior ranks for fear of legal challenges from disgruntled officers and has referred the matter to Law Ministry. The end result was that promotion of over forty brigadiers and major generals was put on hold for the second time in a year. No serious effort was made towards modernization and inertia at the highest level is costing army dearly. It had to return 3’000 crore Rupees of unspent funds to government to the dismay of many officers. (http://news.in.msn.com/exclusives/it/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5940834)
COAS designate Lieutenant General Bikram Singh is considered a good officer by many with a track record. Someone who knows him considers him to be a professional officer but very ambitious. He is from the old school with strong regimental ethos. Bikram will be taking over the command of Indian army in very difficult times. He will have two urgent and crucial tasks on his hands to put Indian army on even keel before addressing real issues facing the institution. First he has to repair the relations of army with MOD and second he has to make sure that current mistrust between senior officers is addressed and alleviated. Bikram has to overcome many of his own misconceptions about some officers and start fresh. He will have to work hard to create smooth working relations with his team of senior officers based on respect and professionalism. If he fails to reverse the current toxic environment at highest ranks then the next two years will see the same unhealthy trend and inertia with negative fallout for the army as well as the country. A senior officer of old school when officers were also gentlemen once told me, ‘an officer is remembered and respected for what he gives to the army to make it a better institution and not for what he takes from the army to advance his own career’.
| Position | Name |
| COAS | General VK Singh (2 Rajput Regiment) |
| VCOAS | Lieutenant General SK Singh (8 Gorkha Rifles) |
| DCOAS (Training) | Lieutenant General Ramesh Halgali |
| DCOAS (Policy & Services) | Lieutenant General Narindar Singh |
| MS | Lieutenant General Sanjiv Chachra (Rajput Regiment) |
| AG | Lieutenant General Jai Prakash Nehra |
| QMG | Lieutenant General Munish Sibal |
| DGMO | Lieutenant General Ashok Kumar Chaudhry (5 Mahar) |
| DGMI | Lieutenant General DS Thakur (1 Marhatta Light Infantry) |
| Command | GOC-in-Chief |
| Northern Command | Lieutenant General KT Parnaik (2 Rajputana Rifles) |
| Western Command | Lieutenant General Shankar Ranjan Ghosh (Brigade of Guards) |
| Central Command | Lieutenant General Anil Chait (Armored Corps) |
| Southern Command | Lieutenant General AK Singh (7 Light Cavalry) |
| Eastern Command | Lieutenant General Bikram Singh (Sikh Light Infantry) |
| South-Western Command | Lieutenant General Gyan Bhushan (Mahar) |
| ARTRAC | Lieutenant General Surendra Nath |
Note: Author thanks many well informed individuals for their valuable input and clarifications. However, conclusion and all errors and omissions are author’s sole responsibility.
