Govt ignores 'seniority' principle only for 2nd time in history
- Lt Gens Praveen Bakshi & P M Hariz were overlooked for army chief role.
- The seniority principle has been ignored only for a 2nd time by government.
- Infantry officer Lt Gen Rawat will be India's 26th army chief.
It has happened only for a second time when a senior official was not appointed as the chief. Earlier, Lt Gen S K Sinha was overlooked for the post in favour of Gen A S Vaidya in 1983.
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Lt Gen Rawat, who is an Infantry officer, having been commissioned in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha Rifles, became the Army vice-chief in September 2016.
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While Lt-Gen Bakshi was commissioned in December 1977, Lt-Gen Hariz was commissioned in June 1978. Meanwhile, Lt-Gen Rawat was commissioned into the fifth battalion of the 11 Gorkha Rifles in December 1978.
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"Merit and suitability have been taken into account while selecting the new Army Chief. Lt Gen Rawat had more than 10 years of experience in counter-insurgency operations and on the Line of Control, besides serving on the China border. He has the requisite experience considering the current situation," Senior Defence Ministry told The Sunday Express.
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Although there might be criticisms regarding the senior most officials being overlooked because the seniority principle has been almost followed every time, the Indian government has a right to appoint whoever it wants to be the next chief of the Army, IAF or Navy.