A military succession plot fine tuned by bureaucracy

How Can Great Oaks Sway With The Wind?
When he was a lieutenant general, V.K. Singh gave it in writing that he had faith in his army chief. This cannot be construed as ‘acceptance’ of a wrog DoB. Mrinalini Singh

An error had been made regarding the date of birth of my father at the time of filling up the UPSC form when he had applied for admission to the National Defence Academy (NDA). This was detected instantly and certain steps were taken to correct the year of birth even before he joined the academy. In fact, he reported 13 days late to the NDA as the date was being sor­ted out. This was obviously taken due note of, for all NDA records then showed his year of birth as 1951. Three years later, when he moved from the NDA to the Indian Military Academy (IMA), he was told to write the date of birth as in the UPSC form. He pointed out that this had been corrected and was told that this would be verified by a board of officers. The pre-commission advisory board checked and verified his particulars; his IMA ident­ity card and his record of service duly sta­ted that he was born in 1951. For the next few decades, ever since his commissioning into the army, his year of birth in all records, whether in the military secretariat or the adjutant general’s branch, was 1951. The only exception was the Army List, which is published keeping the original UPSC form as reference point. Even in this case, as the date of birth had to be verified against the school-leaving certificate, the entry was erroneous.

On May 3, 2006, 19 days after the results of the selection board for lieutenant generals had been declassified, the military secretary at the time, Lt Gen Richard Khare, first wrote to Gen V.K. Singh claiming there was a discrepancy in the records of the two branches. This set off a chain of events that eventually led to the army chief first filing a statutory complaint and then referring the matter to the Supreme Court.

On February 3, 2012, the SC, in its wisdom, castigated the government, stating that the due process of natural justice had not been followed and the process had been “vitiated” in addressing the army chief’s statutory complaint. The attorney general at that time asked for an adjournment, which was granted. During the second hearing, a week later, the attorney general started proceedings by submitting an affidavit by way of which it withdrew its order dated December 30, 2011, that rejected the statutory complaint. In view of the government's move, and the praise about the general’s professional and personal conduct, our lawyer felt there was no point in pressing the matter further, especia­lly since the court had made it clear that in light of the government’s stance, there was nothing further to be discussed from a legal point of view. As a citizen of India, the army chief has already expressed his grateful thanks to the learned judges of the apex court for addressing the issue.
My Ambition
I don’t want to be,
A wealthy man,
Nor I want to be,
A working man.
I want to be,
A great soldier,
Fighting on the front,
with a gun on my shoulder,
I want to die for,
My great, beloved nation,
And for my enemy,
I shall have no compassion,
I want to let the
Chinese know
That Indians can die,
For their Motherland.
(A poem written by Gen V.K. Singh as a Std VIII student, culled from his school magazine)The order passed by the court is not ambiguous in its content. I am bitterly disappointed at the deliberate spin given in the media to the proceedings in the court, which in my view and understanding are quite contrary to what the honourable judges have said in their order. Firstly, the order does not uphold an error in the threshold document, nor does it say anything about the legality of either of the two dates of birth. There’s also nothing to suggest that the so-called ‘acceptance letters’ exist. While it is true that these points came up during the hearing—as did many other statements, which include the much talked about “wise men move with the wind” remark of the judges—but these were arguments that in my understanding cannot be confused with the order passed by the learned judges.

If the government had not withdrawn its order of December 30 concerning my father’s statutory appeal, the arguments in the court would have had a different flavour and intensity and all the facts given above would have come into play, requiring adjudication. But this did not happen, and my father’s critics have gone to town, repeatedly harping that there are three occasions when he had “moved with the wind” and given acceptance letters to the year of birth being 1950. This is blatantly untrue, and I would like to set the record straight.

Contrary to what is being projected, there has never been any such ‘acceptance letter’. In 2006, he was perhaps the only serving lieutenant general in the history of the nation to be asked to furnish a fresh date of birth prior to being cleared for appointment as a corps commander. This despite the fact that just a few weeks prior to that, the military secretariat branch records had cleared him for promotion based on a 1951 year of birth. The then army chief, Gen J.J. Singh, my father’s chief at the time, had categorically told him that there was merely a clerical discrepancy in the records. This would be sorted out, and for that he needed to accept that he had faith in the army chief’s decisions. This would be in the interest of the organisation, as it was otherwise holding up the appointments of all corps commanders. Once the army chief had this letter, it was projected to the defence ministry that there was an ‘acceptance letter’ procured from my father, acknowledging the year of birth as 1950. The fact that my father, then a lieutenant general, continued to ask the military secretariat branch even after that how and why the army chief had been advised to make him declare a new year of birth underlines the fact that in 2006 there was no such ‘acceptance’.

The question that needs to be asked of the then army chief, the military secretary (Lt Gen Khare) and the judge advocate general (Maj Gen Nilender Kumar), who together initiated what was clearly not the standard operating procedure in 2006, is: Why did they make an exception in this case only? These gentlemen have found immunity in red tape, aided perhaps by some deft management of the media, which has sidestepped this question, while my father is accused of “bending with the wind”. In my view, this is where the injustice lies.

As for the second and third ‘acceptance’ letters, it is loos­ely being said they had been written in 2008 and 2009. This immediately begs the question that if there was a ‘first acceptance’ letter, then, what was the need for a second and a third one to be asked for? The situation here is slightly more complex. The army chief at this point of time was Gen Deepak Kapoor and the military secretary Lt Gen Avdhesh Prakash. It is a well known fact that these two gentlemen, both professionally and otherwise, differed sharply from my father (then a lieutenant general) and if the former had his way, my father would not have headed the Eastern Command. Professionally, there was nothing that could be used by the army chief to damage my father, so the ‘age issue’ was once again raked up to provoke him into disobeying a direct order to accept an incorrect year of birth. The army chief is the most powerful man in the army and a series of letters were written which have to be seen in their entirety to get the complete picture. Opinions should not be based on an isolated sentence which cites “the larger organisational interest”. Had this logic been true—that Lt Gen V.K. Singh ‘accepted’ the year of birth as 1950 so as to head the Eastern Command and later become army chief—he would have shut the cupola and not stirred the issue at all during his tenure as eastern army commander before taking over as the chief. However, he continued to write to the military secretary (Lt Gen Prakash), going systematically along accepted lines of redressing the clerical error within the army.

Honour and izzat are words that are emblazoned on a soldier’s heart. Apart from being the daughter of Gen V.K. Singh, I too am an army wife and have seen from close quarters the man I call my father stand up for what he considers is the right thing to do.

In this rather one-sided slanging match, it is also being implied by his critics that the army chief would be better off fighting for one-rank-one-pay, war memorials, weapon systems and all the other problems that haunt the system. I am not going to get drawn into what all he has done as the army chief; that’s best left to others and that is a part of his job anyway. For me, his worldview is best encapsulated in a quote from Ernest Hemingway that he uses often: “Few men for the right cause brave the disrespect of their fellow men, the censure of their colleagues and ignorance of society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields out painfully to change.”
(Mrinalini Singh is the daughter of Gen V.K. Singh) —as told to Chander Suta Dogra
How Can Great Oaks Sway With The Wind?

Comment: The MOD, Bureaucracy and self- centered former generals have succeeded in the "Succession Plot" covertly and cunningly engineered with great skills. The media and citizens continue to remain confused regarding promotions in the Military which is not based on date of birth. The whole episode is a sordid blot on the Nation already engulfed in scams. All it proves is that the corrupt have mastery over their destiny.

Govt ignored military secretary's recommendation on Army chief's age

India Today / India / North / StoryCourtesy: Headlines TodayShiv Aroor New Delhi, January 20, 2012 | UPDATED 17:44 IST
The Ministry of Defence ignored a crucial document which shows that Army chief General V.K Singh's contention on his age was accepted and there was no controversy on it within the forces. The document clearly gives the Army chief an edge over the government's stand on the issue in the court.

Headlines Today accessed the July 2011 note from the military secretary's (MS) branch which states that the chief's age be treated as May 10, 1951 and not 1950.

The document, signed by then military secretary Lt Gen G.M Nair, provides instances of selection boards that promoted V.K Singh up the ranks based on 1951 as the year of birth.

click here to enlarge

The reason why this document could prove crucial is that it was the MS branch that originally had in its possession the documents which recorded the chief's year of birth as 1950.

In other words, the document is the MS branch recommending that the anomalous records in its possession be ignored and 1951 be treated as the year of Singh's birth.

As it turned out, the government chose not to accept this recommendation. However sources told Headlines Today that the document strengthens the chief's case and could prove a trump card in the Supreme Court.

The document also lays to rest the notion that there was any internal conflict over the chief's age between the MS branch and the adjutant general's branch.
Read more at: Govt ignored military secretary's recommendation on Army chief's age

Mandalised Military like Bureaucracy Murders Meritocracy

Saturday, 14 January 2012
All the Chief's Men: Quotas rule promotions in a “Mandalised” army
These NDA cadets are all equal when they start. But not so when they become officers in various arms. Skewed promotion policies will give many of them an unfair edge over the others. by Ajai Shukla
Business Standard, 14th Jan 12

Says a senior officer of the mechanised forces who was recently promoted, but sees equally competent compatriots being overtaken by lesser officers: “The Indian army has been effectively Mandalised. The traditional meritocracy of senior rank has given way to a shoddy system of quotas that is placing unconfident and incompetent officers to command troops in battle.”
click here to read more

All the chief's men
Ajai Shukla / New Delhi January 14, 2012, 0:19 IST
Quotas rule promotions in a “Mandalised” army.
A recent letter, boldly written by a serving lieutenant colonel to the army chief, General V K Singh says: “PROFESSIONAL DISCRIMINATION is upgrading (sic) into SOCIAL DISCRIMINATION. The formidable INDIAN ARMY is developing cracks. What the enemy would have loved to foster, is happening on its own.”

Says a senior officer of the mechanised forces who was recently promoted, but sees equally competent compatriots being overtaken by lesser officers: “The Indian army has been effectively Mandalised. The traditional meritocracy of senior rank has given way to a shoddy system of quotas that is placing unconfident and incompetent officers to command troops in battle.”

People sometimes wonder what drives soldiers in the face of death. The answer, surprisingly, is not patriotism, religion, discipline, bloodlust, or a quest for glory. Instead, most soldiers affirm that a shared brotherhood with their comrades is what drives them through mortal danger. The ones who die do so in the belief that death is better than besmirching the legacy of their unit or sub-unit. “Soldiers live and die for the name of their unit alone,” says Brigadier Virendar Singh who led the assault on the 21,000-feet-high Bana Post above the Siachen Glacier in 1987, one of India’s most stirring military exploits.

Reflecting this philosophy, combat units are structured around the regimental system. Combat arms, which include the infantry (foot soldiers) and the armoured corps (tank men), are all organised into regiments or groups. These include legends like the Gurkha regiment, the Sikh Light Infantry and the Brigade of Guards. The armoured corps has a plethora of famous regiments like 4 Horse, Skinner’s Horse, and 3rd Cavalry. Officers and jawans go straight from initial training into their unit, a tightly-bonded fraternity of 550 to 800 men. For the duration of their field service, they serve with that same unit, imbibing its ethos and character. Their uniform bears its distinctive symbols — cap badges, shoulder titles, belts, flashes and lanyards — which reaffirm their identity. They soak in, and revel in, their unit’s history, its battle honours and the personalities that it produced.
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Is corruption endemic?

August 11, 2011
Army Corruption Hits India
This isn’t going to help quiet the angry mobs in New Delhi: senior Indian army officials have been accused of misappropriating prime real estate built for soldiers wounded in the line of duty for themselves and their families.
The Indian Comptroller and Auditor General office’s willingness to publish such a report and the ability of protestors to demonstrate relatively peacefully are positive indicators of the health of Indian democracy and civil society. But democracy and civil society aren’t enough to guarantee India’s continued ascension to global superpower-status.
Corruption is endemic in Indian society. That corruption is increasingly making the already unwieldy state almost ungovernable — demonstrators unhappy with the most recent rash of scandals have now moved off the streets and into parliamentary sessions, preventing lawmakers from moving ahead with their legislative work.
The leaders of the world’s rising superpowers’ would do well to listen to the wise words of the Dalai Lama. Corruption is a cancer of the state.
And I am left wondering: what, exactly, is the moral difference between stealing military funds and treason?
click here for the original post

Adarsh Housing Society: Cases booked under IPC

PIB- Ministry of Defence 14-March, 2011 20:18 IST
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a Preliminary Enquiry on 15.11.2010 which has been completed and a regular case registered on 29.1.2011 against 13 persons under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Searches have been conducted at 13 places and large number of documents have been seized, which are under scrutiny by CBI. The names of accused persons are :(1) Shri R.C. Thakur, the then sub. Divisional Officer, Defence Estate Office, Mumbai, (2) Brigadier (Brig) [Retd]. Madan Mohan Wanchu, (3) Shri Kanhaiyalal Gidwani, Ex-MLC, (4) Major General (Maj Gen) [Retd], A.R. Kumar, the then General Officer Commanding in-charge (GOC), Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa (MG&G) Area, Mumbai, (5) Brig.(Retd) Romesh Chandra Sharma, the then Deputy GOC, MG&G area, Mumbai, (6) Maj Gen Tej Krishan Kaul, the then GOC, Indian Army Mumbai, (7) Brig (Retd.) Tara Kant Sinha, the then Colonel, MG&G Area, Mumbai, (8) Brig P.K. Rampal, the then Commandant, sub area Mumbai, (9) Sh. P.V. Deshmukh, the then Dy. Secretary D/o Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra, (10) Shri Ramanand Tiwari, the then Principal Secretary, D/o Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra, (11) Shri Subhash Lala, the then Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra, (12) Dr. Pradeep Vyas, the then Collector, Mumbai, (13) Shri Ashok Rao Chavan, the then Revenue Minister and the then Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra and private persons. Investigation is in progress. The details of violation of rules/ regulation can be ascertained only after completion of investigation.
Some note sheets of a Adarsh Housing Society related file of Department of Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra have been found missing. In this regard, FIR has been filed with Mumbai Police against unknown persons.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to S DR. Arvind Kumar Sharma and others in Lok Sabha today. PK/NN
(Release ID :70979)
Adarsh Housing Society

Decision on Adarsh demolition after CBI report: Antony

January 20, 2011 20:52 IST
After the Environment Ministry recommended demolition of the Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai, Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday said he would take a decision on the issue after getting the Central Bureau of Investigation report. "We will take a decision after the CBI inquiry is over," he told mediapersons in New Delhi.
Antony was asked if the defence ministry had decided anything on the fate of the scam-tainted building in view of the recommendations made by the environment ministry and the army's southern command.
The CBI, which is probing the scam, is also likely to give its recommendations as to whether the building constructed next to a sensitive naval base is a security threat and whether it should be demolished or given to the defence ministry for public use. The defence ministry had recommended a CBI probe after it emerged that flats were allotted to several senior serving and retired military personnel including three former service chiefs.
On Sunday, the environment ministry recommended that the 31-storey building be demolished within three months as the project in Mumbai's upmarket Colaba was "unauthorised" and violated coastal regulations.
Asked if the defence ministry had taken any decision on recommending a CBI probe in the Kandivli land scam, Antony said, "Not yet, because it has to be studied in detail. We don't want to jump to conclusions. After careful examination, wherever we find something, then only we will act."
The land scam in Mumbai allegedly involves former minister of state for defence production Rao Inderjit Singh and former army chief General Deepak Kapoor.
The two have been accused of facilitating the sale of land belonging to the Army in Mumbai's Kandivli-Malad area to a private builder. Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General Pradeep Khanna, in a report to Army Chief General V K Singh, has said that land which was under the defence ministry since 1942, has been "illegally" sold to private realtors.
Commenting on the progress made in the issue related to a secret file, which was recovered from a roadside in New Delhi, Antony said, "I think within a few days we will finalise the report. The Indian Air Force feels that it has nothing to do with the process."
The IAF had submitted its report with the defence ministry on Monday after completing its court of inquiry and had given a clean chit to its officials.
Decision on Adarsh demolition after CBI report: Antony

Related News
HRD said no to IGNOU doctorate for Gen Kapoor
Former Army chief General Deepak Kapoor, now in the dock over the Adarsh housing scam besides a series of other defence land scams, has been denied an honorary doctorate that a Central government-run university wanted to confer on him.
A Right to Information (RTI) application filed by The Indian Express has revealed that while the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) had submitted a proposal seeking to confer an honorary doctorate on the former Army chief, the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry in December last year shot down the proposal terming it inappropriate. The move comes even as a series of allegations have been surfacing against General Kapoor over the past few months questioning his role in the Kandivali land transfer scam, Sukna land scam and most notably in the Adarsh Housing Society scam.
As per established procedures, Central universities have to route their proposals on conferring of honorary doctorates to the HRD Ministry with complete information on the proposed candidates. In case of any foreigner or a significant personality being considered for awarding a doctorate by a government institution, political clearance is also required. Once cleared by the government, the same proposal is sent to the President — who is Visitor to all Central universities — to be signed before the varsity is deemed to have been permitted to confer the said doctorate.
HRD said no to IGNOU doctorate for Gen Kapoor

Consequences of Corruption in the Armed Forces

Building integrity and reducing corruption risk are important parts of building strong, capable, and affordable defence and security structures and forces.
Corruption undermines the defence and security capabilities of every country. Corruption causes waste of money, bad allocation of resources, and the purchasing of inadequate or low-quality equipment. This may endanger the life of personnel and decrease operational effectiveness. Corrupted personnel cannot be trusted. They can be paid the next time by vendors, organised criminals, terrorist organisations, or by potential enemies.
Corruption in the defence sector reduces public trust and acceptance of the military in general and may erode public support for peace-keeping missions. It also reduces resources for civilian sectors of the economy, and can infect other parts of government. Corruption slows down the development and growth of a nation.
Integrity
Integrity has both a technical and a moral meaning.

In a technical sense, we say that ‘the hull of this ship has integrity’. This means that the whole system works properly – the outer skin of the ship does not leak, and that all the various systems that make up and support the hull are sound and function correctly.

In a personal and moral sense, it means that the work has been done honestly and sincerely, and is uncorrupted.
Here, when we say “integrity”, we mean the following:

An individual has integrity if he/she is doing their work competently and honestly, and completely.

A process has integrity if it works as it is intended to, and fits seamlessly into the larger system of which it is a part.

An organisation has integrity if its work is done within proper accountability, competently, to completion, and without diversion of output or resources to corrupt or dishonest ends.
Corruption
Corruption is “the abuse of entrusted office for private gain”.
Countries themselves will often have formal definitions written into their laws. For example, the definition may read like: “The illegal action or inaction by an individual (either human or legal body) authorized to perform State functions directed at illegally obtaining any advantages, benefits, influences, privileges of material or non-material for themselves, or for third parties or groups”.
Whilst there are many definitions, general experience is that most people know what it is, even if there is no formal description. For example in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which is the principal international convention on the subject, there is no formal definition of corruption; instead they give full definitions of what constitutes a public official.
What is more important is to be clear that there are different types of corruption in defence. Measures to address the risks will be effective only where there is an understanding of which particular aspect of the problem is being addressed. The following questions assists that understanding.
Anti-corruption policy in defence and security
1. What are the areas of greatest risk in bribery and corruption for Ministry of Defence and armed forces personnel? (for example, small bribes, expenses, travel, postings, commission on local purchases, ACRs, Issue of NOC, misuse of canteen facilities)? List the top 6 areas.
Areas to explore:

How do you determine the areas of greatest risk?

How are these areas of potential bribery and corruption risk mitigated? Describe the measures currently in place.

What are the sanctions which can be applied to personnel if they are found to have taken part in these top 6 areas of bribery and corruption?
2. Describe the level of commitment to anti-corruption and integrity measures within MoD, Commands, Area HQ as declared by the Defence Minister and the COAS. How do they publish their policy and guidance internally?
Areas to explore:

Do the RM and COAS talk publicly on integrity issues? If so, describe.

What is the level of awareness within the Defence Ministry and across the armed forces of integrity and corruption risk matters?

Give examples of steps taken to address integrity and corruption risk within the Defence Ministry and in the armed forces.
3. Describe the measures in place within the Defence Ministry and armed forces to address integrity and corruption issues, and any major reforms underway to ensure that these issues are tackled. Please list all measures being taken.
4. If there is an anti-corruption policy, describe who is responsible for its enforcement.
Areas to explore:

Is a specific department or individual is responsible for ensuring that this occurs?

What is the effectiveness of this?
5. What institutions exist with the aim of building integrity, and combating and preventing corruption in defence? Describe recent successes.
Areas to explore:

What are the roles of anti-corruption and ethics advisers, external and internal auditors, inspections, prosecutors, etc?

Land Scam: Swift action by the Army

Army orders probe into Adarsh Society scam, role of officers
NDTV December 11, 2010 22:06 IST
New Delhi: The Army today ordered a court of inquiry into the Adarsh Housing Society scam in Mumbai and the alleged role of senior serving and retired officers, including Major General R K Hooda, in it.

"Yes, a court of inquiry has been ordered in the Adarsh Society episode and certainly Major General R K Hooda figures among those who will be examined," a senior officer in the Army headquarters here told PTI.

The Army's Pune-based Southern Command headquarters ordered the probe to find out how these officers had issued a No-Objection Certificate to the private housing society to construct a 31-storeyed complex on a plot in Kolaba.

Maj Gen Hooda was the Mumbai-based Area Commander for Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa.

The 104-apartment Society got embroiled in a controversy after the Navy had raised concerns over security as the building over-looked important military installations.
NDTV Report- Read more click here
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Out of line: an army under fire

Mumbai Mayhem two years ago... 28.11.2008
"They are from across the border and perhaps from Faridkot, Pakistan. They tried to pretend that they were from Hyderabad" Major General R.K. Hooda, leading the military operation to flush out the extremists, told reporters.
India blames Pakistan for Mumbai terrorist attacks

Military made a scapegoat by Defence Estate Officers

Army clearances forged for three Mumbai projects
Nitin Gokhale, Updated: November 23, 2010 19:28 IST
New Delhi: A group of Army officers posted in and around Mumbai will now be investigated for whether they habitually conspired with local politicians and builders to allow commercial real estate projects in high-security areas.
On Monday, NDTV reported that three no-objection certificates issued in the name of army officers were forged. They granted permission to builders to construct high-rises in Kandivali, Juhu and Malad - the three projects are collectively worth 80-90 crores.
Clearances from the army are required for construction within 500 metres of any defence installation.
The Army Headquarters has ordered the Pune-based Southern Command to send a status report on the three cases by the end of the week. The Army has also filed FIRs or police complaints that allege forgery and collusion.
The Adarsh Society case exposed how army officers signed away permission for construction in return for flats in a 31-storey building in Colaba that was meant to accommodate war widows and veterans. The Army and navy objected as recently as September to those clearances.
The three new cases suggest that there was a sustained and comfortable partnership between Army officers and real estate developers. The army will try to determine which senior officers benefited from the arrangement, and whether the same men who stage-managed the Adarsh project helped deliver army clearances. Sources say the Army may seek the CBI's assistance.
The Adarsh Society case led to the army asking for a complete audit of the thousands of acres it owns across the country. It has also asked the Defence Ministry to redefine the reporting chain of the civilian officers of the Defence Estates Organisation, which manages all defence land.
Defence estate officers currently report directly to the Defence Ministry. The Army wants them to be accountable to local military authorities.
Military made a scapegoat by Defence Estate Officers in land scams

Will CBI relentlessly pursue the case to its logical collusion or conclusion?

CBI likely to file case in Adarsh scam today.

The CBI is likely to file a case in the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam on Friday and a team of its officials from Mumbai will go to the agency headquarters in Delhi to apprise higher officials of its findings.

A CBI spokesman in Delhi said a letter from the Defence Ministry asking the agency to conduct the probe has been received. The CBI is in the process of collecting relevant records and documents, and “no case has been registered as yet”, he added.

CBI officials in Mumbai said a team would be going to the Delhi head office on Friday for discussion on the Adarsh scam. “Only after discussion, further course of action will be decided,” the officials said.

Official sources said a case was likely to be registered on Friday when CBI Director Ashwini Kumar, who is at present out of country attending an Interpol Conference, returns.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony had announced on Tuesday that a CBI probe into the housing society scam, in which some senior Army officials, including former Army chiefs Gen Deepak Kapoor and NC Vij, had flats allotted in their names.

The CBI, which had made in-house investigations into the case following complaints since October, will apprise the officials at the headquarters about the findings from documents received from several departments, the sources said.

The CBI had sought documents relating to the Society from various departments of the Government, Indian Navy and Army and the Society, the sources added.

“While we had received over 4,000-page documents from the city collector’s office, the Society members have sent us a letter requesting more time to submit the documents. We have also received documents from other departments,” a senior CBI official said.

Adarsh Housing Society members’ lawyer Satish Maneshinde had said, “We have given certain documents to CBI and have sought further time to submit the remaining. We have also written to MMRDA officials asking them to take back the notice revoking the occupancy certificate of the society.

“The notice violated principles of natural justice. The building was constructed legally and necessary sanction had been granted by authorities including the MMRDA.”

CBI officials said, “We are verifying all the information and documents, after which a decision would be made on the course of action. Before registering a case, we need to gather information.”

The plush housing society, built on prime defence land, has been constructed in alleged violation of rules. The building was originally meant to be a six-storey structure to house Kargil war heroes and their kin but was later extended to 31 floors without mandatory permission.

The scam has already taken its first political casualty with Ashok Chavan resigning as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
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Action against Adarsh Society by this week: Jairam

The scam-hit Adarsh Housing Society will face action for its violation of green norms by the end of the week, according to Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

While the Maharashtra environment department and coastal zone authority have both submitted their reports to the Union Ministry, denying that they granted any clearance to the controversial project, Mr. Ramesh said he is still awaiting the state urban development department’s report.

The Adarsh building is 31-storeys tall, in blatant violation of coastal zone regulations that permit only a six-storey building in that area. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ramesh made it clear that state urban development department was not authorised to grant such clearances.
Read more- Click here

Khukri Eco Park Converted to High Rise Scam posing a Security Risk

Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society
Land was under uninterrupted in continuous possession of the Army for over 40 years. The said plot was a garden known as ‘Khukri Eco Park’ with 135 grown up trees and was under the management of local military authorities. The GOC M&G Area Maj Gen B A Cariappa inaugurated the said park on 27th October, 1996 on the Infantry Day. The park was surrounded by a wall constructed by the Military Engineering Services and the same was adjacent and contiguous to other Army units located in the Zone VI. The said Eco Park continued to remain under control and management of Army till 2004 where army personnel were detailed round the clock regularly for guarding it like any other army establishment. View Khukri Eco Park images.

Photo Link
Photo Link
The land was abandoned by the Army to be allotted to Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society by a conspiracy hatched by senior serving officers, bureaucrats, politicians and officers of Defence Estate. The conspiracy was hatched in the year 2000 when Maj Gen AR Kumar was the General Officer Commanding MG & G Area and Brig TK Kaul was the Sub Area Commander. Brig TK Kaul came back as GOC MG & G Area in November 2002. Since the year 2000, each of the Generals Officer Commanding, Maharashtra & Gujarat Area, Maj. Gen. A. R. Kumar, Maj Gen VS Yadav, Maj Gen TK Kaul, Maj Gen Tejinder Singh, Maj Gen RK Hooda, have become members of Adarsh Society for allotment of flat to them or their relatives as if it was a pre-requisite of the appointment of General Officer Commanding, Maharashtra & Gujarat Area and in return these General Officers remained silent on the conspiracy hatched even at the risk of the security hazard posed by construction of 30 storey building overlooking the sensitive defence area. Not only did they remain silent on this issue but provided immunity and protection to the Society in continuing their manipulation.

The 30 storeyed building constructed completely dominates the entire Army & Navy area and sensitive installations like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. The building causes a security concerns of great magnitude in the longer run.

The Army and Navy in Mumbai are in great need of land to meet shortage of accommodation for its officers, JCOs, NCOs and Sepoys. Presently they are being made to share married accommodation. Sharing of married accommodation by more than one family has caused several social problems of privacy and illicit relationships.
Extracted from: Colaba Land Scam Worth Rs. 500 Crores: Citizens Letter to COAS

Tricolor Risk and Security Consultants PVT Ltd
Tricolor Consultants was established in Aug 2005 by Major General Tej Krishen Kaul (Retd), recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal and Mrs Neelu Tej Kaul to create a niche head hunting firm focused on identifying the best talent from the Indian Armed Forces to work in the Corporate sector. The firm also has expertise in risk management and in security systems and solutions. Future plans include facility management, training and publications. In the short span of our existence, we have had the privilege of being associated with a number of leading MNCs in Core Engineering, Automobile, Power, Security Technology, IT, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Education, Hospitality, Health Care, Media and Financial Institutions. We have successfully accomplished multifaceted placements for a large number of our candidates besides providing sound security solutions to several renowned organisations including the famous Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan.
Address: 58 A, The Arcade – 1st Floor, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400 005, India
Tricolor Risk and Security Consultants PVT Ltd
Adarsh Scam: Don't ask questions, Army was told- Nitin Gokhale NDTV
Crackdown on Adarsh towers: Babus in the line of fire

Commentary: It is essential to carry out an yearly audit of all Ex Servicemen Security Services so that they do not endanger the Security of the Nation. Maj Gen TK Kaul leader of Security Services has presently gone underground and another Security Service needs to be employed to locate him.

Will Defence Ministry take over Scam- Hit Mumbai Military Complex?

Click here to read how an RTI activist blew lid off Colaba Military Land scam
Economic Times 27 Oct, 2010, 04.14AM IST, Josy Joseph,TNN Defence min may take over scam-hit Mumbai complex

NEW DELHI: Stung by the embarrassing scam in which retired military brass connived with Maharashtra bureaucrats and politicians to corner a prized piece of property in Mumbai's tony Colaba — all in the name of Kargil war widows — the defence ministry and the army chiefs have decided to come down like a ton of bricks and are considering invoking the Defence of India Rules (DIR) to take over the property and call in the CBI to probe the scandal.

These two options have been considered at the highest level in meetings between the defence ministry and the army brass where the Adarsh housing society scam, whose lid was blown off by TOI on Monday, was discussed at length. There are indications that the army brass is veering around to a takeover of the 31-storey complex and put it to military use. The promoters would, however, be reimbursed their cost.

Sources said the army headquarters has already recommended a CBI inquiry into the scam. The recommendation came in response to a query from defence minister A K Antony. "Since we do not have the legal standing to inquire into the conduct of the state government departments, we believe the CBI must look into how the entire manipulation happened and the guilty must be punished," a source said to explain the army's unusual readiness to be probed by an outside agency.

The recourse to DIR rules will mark an unprecedented step. Framed by the British to deal with challenges to their Empire, the rules have seldom been used since the Emergency in 1975. It is ironical that the rule is being dusted off to deal with a scam allegedly involving leaders of armed forces, politicians and bureaucrats who connived to misappropriate the land they got the army to release for war widows.

But DIR is seen as justified given the enormity of the embarrassment and the fact that the armed forces, normally zealous in guarding their turf, are okay with the idea of a CBI probe because, apart from retired military officers, several others are involved in the land grab, including officers of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation .

Sources said Antony has made it clear that the scam will not be swept under the carpet. On his instructions, the MoD has sought the army's response to the disclosure by TOI. The army headquarters has quite a task on its hand. The officials dealing with the issue have to reckon with the fact that the beneficiaries of the scam include two of its former chiefs, one former vice chief, one southern army commander and at least four officers who headed the MG & G Area (Maharashtra, Gujarat & Goa) in recent times.

All of them own apartments in the complex. The grim mood in the headquarters coupled with Antony's resolve indicates that the current leadership may not flinch from taking tough measures to repair the damage to military image.

The navy has its own share of embarrassment, with a former navy chief, a former chief of the western naval command and another senior admiral featuring among the flat owners in the housing society.
Defence Ministry may take over scam-hit Mumbai complex

Housing Complex meant for welfare of Kargil war widows, veterans and service personnel hijacked by chain of manipulators

India more corrupt than ever- Transparency International

Commentary: All Defence Estate Officers are linked to MOD Bureaucrats who are tasked to surreptitiously palm off defence lands to Criminal Politicians and Fake real estate promoters. This is happening for the last 60 years and most scams are buried under the carpet. The NOC tutorial is being applied and spreading all the time...! The Military is made a scapegoat by the scheming Bureaucrats- White Shepards leading the Black Sheep!

Denigrating the Armed Forces: A Dangerous Agenda

(Published in Indian Defence Review Sep 2010). Need to subscribe to read the full article: click here
Denigrating the Armed Forces: A Dangerous Agenda
While watching TV on 03 June 2010, viewers were shocked to read breaking news – “Army shamed by sex scandal.” Another channel informed viewers that a serving Lieutenant General had been forced to resign for molesting another officer’s wife while on an official tour to Israel. Every channel tried to outdo each other by sensational headlines. Reputation of the military leadership in general and that of the General Officer concerned was torn to shreds. Most e-papers reproduced the news item released by PTI. The furor got somewhat dampened when the Army Headquarters (AHQ) issued a denial. It said that preliminary investigations had shown that there were a number of loopholes in the account of allegations and that further investigations were in progress. It also clarified that the General Officer had neither resigned nor had been asked to submit his resignation.

It is learnt that the high level Court of Inquiry (C of I) convened by the Army Headquarters has found the allegations to be totally baseless. Apparently, either the concerned PTI correspondent had erred in not confirming the veracity of the report with AHQ or was a willing party to the slander campaign. It is doubtful if he would ever be taken to task for his transgression. Predictably, PTI did not consider it necessary to apologise for its senseless blunder. Similarly, it is unlikely that other over-enthusiastic media players can muster enough moral courage to regret their mistake publically.

Similarly, media coverage of the Sukhna land case is characterised by unrelenting campaign to tarnish the image of the armed forces by targeting its senior officers. Facts of the case were totally and intentionally ignored to justify allegation of gross misappropriation. The case was nonchalantly termed as a scam despite the fact that the land in question was privately owned and did not belong to the Army; no transfer took place and no money ever exchanged hands. The civilian owner wanted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Army before investing resources in the construction of a school on the said land, lest there be objections subsequently. The total case revolved around an act of indiscretion by a General Officer when he recommended issuance of NOC to the incumbent Corps Commander. Incidentally, no pressure can be exerted by a Military Secretary as Corps Commanders do not report to him.

Not one media personality cared to find out as to what the scam was. The coverage dealt with the case as if it were another fodder scam or Chhattisgarh loot. As most TV channels thrive on sensationalism, speakers from various fields were invited to air their views. Without understanding the real nature of the case, they took stands as per their own prejudices and mindset. A rare sane voice was invariably silenced by an aggressive anchor carrying the mandate to steer discussion as per the channel’s agenda. Objectivity was the inevitable casualty. One self-proclaimed military writer of suspect credentials went to the extent of stating that the accused officers should be publically shot dead. He forgot that Indian governance works purely on recommendations – every political leader and bureaucrat issues numerous letters of recommendations every day. Should they all be shot dead or is the law of the land different for the services?... subscribe to IDR to read full article...
Major General Mrinal Suman, AVSM, VSM, PhD (Retd)

MoD employs double standards on Land Scams

Gymkhana Club Chennai owes 33 crores as rent arrears on occupation of Military assets
The prestigious Gymkhana Club, situated close to the TN area headquarters, was an exclusive facility for military officers. Until 1920, its membership was restricted to garrison officers only and, even today, the club grounds belong to the armed services. This club is now hijacked by Civilians, Industrialists and Bureaucrats and Garrison Officers reduced to personae non gratae (literally non entities) without voting rights. This is height of bureaucratic arrogance subjected on the defence forces! The Area Commander is made a dummy Patron of the Club to hoodwink the Garrison Officer- Members serving and retired.

The then Madras Gymkhana Club was in occupation of 44.13 acres of Defence land in a prime part of the city from December 1977 to November 1986 on payment of annual rent of Rs 3,526. Though a formal lease agreement had not been entered into with the Club till then, the Ministry of Defence sanctioned, in October 1990, the continuance of the lease only in respect of 8.608 acres of land retrospectively from November 1986 onwards at the increased annual rent of Rs.8,608 based on agricultural rates. No lease agreement was concluded even thereafter. Gymkhana Club, Chennai in occupation of 44.13 acres has an outstanding dues Rs 33.10 crores, which has not been recovered over the years.

The DEO, Chennai, recovered rent from the Club up to November 1991. Thereafter, he stopped accepting rent from the Club on the ground that it had resorted to unauthorised construction on the leased land and had also made alterations to the building thereon without the prior permission of the lessor and in violation of the lease agreement.

Audit scrutiny disclosed the following:
The Club had constructed 14 air-conditioned guest rooms, in respect of which rent ranging from Rs 900 to Rs 1,950 per day was levied, a beauty parlour, a Chinese kitchen, ice-cream parlour, etc. It had also sub-let a portion of the land to a bank without the prior permission of the lessor.
Keeping in view the Club’s commercial activities, the DEO had assessed that rent amounting to Rs 33.10 crore was recoverable for the period from November 1991 to June 2001, based on only 2.5 per cent of the land value, as against 5 per cent adopted for determining the rent payable by another club in the same station, that was also involved in similar commercial activities. Government’s approval for revision of rent as proposed by the DEO had not been obtained even after the lapse of over 4 years as of March 2002. The Directorate General of Defence Estates informed Audit in September 2002 that the draft lease for the period from December 1977 onwards and rate at which damages were to be recovered from the Club had not yet been finalised by Ministry.
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE: Status of encroached lands
Exploitation of Defence Lands and listed scams

The MoD in connivance with Politicians have hijacked the prestigious and Exclusive Military Club. The present Committee Members of the club are spinning and reeking in crores of Rupees from membership fees from Industrialists, Bureaucrats and Civilians. The Bye- laws suitably framed by the Governing Body is a farce and passed by proxy to ensure the outstanding rentals are not paid to the Military. The Military Officers are made joker members divested of any honour or dignity in the club! When the Military is fighting for upholding Warrant of Precedence of Military ranks, here we see slew of dishonour bestowed on Military Officers and Retired Officers. Defence Minister should intervene and ensure that dignity of Military Officers are upheld at all forums.
Gymkhana Club Chennai- hijacked? Military made a scapegoat!

Sukhna Land Scam
Kolkata: Indian Army will begin trials in the Sukhna land scam case against Lt Gen PK Rath and Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash in Kolkata.

Lt Gen P Goel will be the presiding officer for the proceedings. The Army is going ahead with the proceedings even as a case is going on at the Armed Forces Tribunal where Lt Gen Prakash is seeking a stay. The tribunal has reserved its verdict in the land scam case.

Sources in Army Headquarters say the trials cannot be treated as contempt since the tribunal did not ask for stay of disciplinary proceedings.

Army's Eastern Command in Kolkata will carry out disciplinary proceedings which start on Wednesday and will begin with "hearing of the charge" - that is the charge will be read out to accused officers.

Lt Gen Prakash was the military secretary and responsible for the promotions and postings of army officers. He is among the army's most senior officers to face court martial on charges of corruption.
Top generals to be charged in Sukhna land scam

Sukhna Land Scam?

Almost all institutions in the country, including that of PMO, have been destroyed / subverted/ weakened by the politico-bureaucratic nexus. Military is the only institution still intact but the vested interest (bureaucracy) wants to systematically do the same to it also. In the so called Sukhna land case, the bureaucracy has misguided the Raksha Mantri into interfering in centuries old and well tested military judicial and justice system. This is a most dangerous trend.

Sukhna episode is not a SCAM, nor even a scandal, and a mountain has been made out of a mole hill. The land belongs neither to the army nor the Government, nor it has been occupied by Army but is a private tea estate. Since the land is still with the owner, where is the scam? The issuing of NOC for the construction of a school, within the prohibited area around the cantonment is the issue. Don’t ALL our cantonments have civilian pockets within them? Aren’t ALL our military stations surrounded by civilian areas? If there is no security threat to all such stations what is so peculiar with Sukhna? Law of ‘No Construction with in 1000 yards’ of the boundary of a military establishments is violated and flouted everywhere with impunity, without any exception. The DCs routinely issue ‘change of land use,’ orders, maybe for a consideration. The most glaring cases are construction near vast ammunition depot at Badowal (Ludhiana) and a most sensitive Air Force establishment at Kasauli. These affect National Security far more seriously than the Sukna case. The media must go into these violations and seek strict actions against the guilty.

For all issues arising out of giving of NOC, the Army Chief, after examining the Court of Inquiry, other evidence and the recommendations of the army commander, is well within his legal and administrative rights to decide on the further course of action. In the instant case, his decision to take only administrative action can be as debatable as any judicial order. Sometimes ‘administrative’ action can be quicker and harsher than a Court Martial, where a person has a right to defend himself.

Unprecedented Intervention by the RM is irregular and is beset with grave implications, besides impinging on the rights and sanctity of military’s judicial system. He appears to be goaded in this matter by the MOD bureaucracy, for obvious reasons related to our ongoing agitation for Parity in Pension and thus to show military in bad light. Both the RM and the Army Chief can be put in a very embarrassing position when called as defence witnesses by a clever defence counsel in the Court Martial. What happens if the case is lost? Can the institutional damage inflicted on the Military be then undone?

Aspersions have been cast on the integrity of the COAS himself. Why should Civil–Military rivalry or infighting amongst top few Generals be allowed to erode the faith of the soldiers deployed on borders or at 21000 feet in Siachen, in their military’s justice system and its leadership, thus lowering their morale, which is a ‘Battle Winning’ factor?

The real ‘SCAMS’ are grabbing of defence land of military camping grounds and around the cantonments by the big fish are real land scams. Govt must NOT apply entirely different yardsticks for civil and military personnel. It is all right that armed forces ought to be clean, but scale to measure guilt must be same. It takes 19 years to convict a DGP for molesting a minor girl, whereas in the army those involved even an underweight egg are dealt with expeditiously. Military Soldiers accused in the Tehelka case were severely punished while nothing happened to any civilian. Bureaucrats involved in proven corruption cases are promoted or even go as Governors. Is it JUSTICE? Let ‘justice’ be equitable for all.

As per the media reports, black money of US$ 1.4 trillion (about Rs 75 LAKH CRORES) is stashed away in Swiss banks by our corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and the like. Yet not a whimper is heard about it. The dead horse of Sukhna is being flogged, by all, rather noisily.
Brig Harwant Singh (Retd)
President,
The All India Defence Brotherhood (Regd)
Related reading
The Generals and their labyrinth

Will not tolerate corruption in armed forces: Antony

The government on Sunday said the army has already taken strong action in the Sukhna land scam case, insisting that it will not tolerate even a single instance of corruption in the armed forces.

"Already, army has taken strong action. I do not want to say anything further... We cannot tolerate even a single instance of corruption," Defence Minister A K Antony said.

Replying to a question on the reasons for advising court martial proceedings against Lt Gen Awadesh Prakash, who has been indicted in the Sukhna land scam, Antony said what happened in Sukhna and in some other cases are "aberrations".

"Look at the society as a whole, various walks of life. Compared to many other institutions, armed forces has a much better system of correcting things and punishing the guilty," he said.

Antony said, "You should compare what is going on around. Compared to many other institutions, armed forces and army are doing much better to take action and correct aberrations in the system".

The Defence Minister asked to look at the positive aspect of the armed forces and its traditions, saying the sacrifices made by jawans and the officers must also be looked at.

"Our jawans and officers are sacrificing their life, their blood, their health to protect every inch of our territory, to safeguard border security. We must salute them and protect their honour," he said. (SS-31/01)
Will not tolerate corruption in armed forces: Antony

Attempt to subvert the Army Judicial & Disciplinary System

Dear Chander,
Sending herewith a link from The Hindu Online, January 29, 2010 for your perusal and dissemination: Antony’s advice to Army Chief irks ex-servicemen - The Hindu Online, January 29, 2010.

Gen Satbir has, indeed, done everyone of us proud in articulating the attempt to subvert the Army Judicial & Disciplinary system. It was very timely and had to be done to support and boost the personal morale of the Army Chief, who has been under tremendous pressure from all quarters.
Regards,
Chris D'Silva
(Capt Christopher Lucian Newman D'Silva IN, Watertown MA 02472, USA)

The Sukhna Episode- the legal issues

The Sukna episode– it is not a SCAM, irrespective of what the media says- needs to be examined dispassionately, from the legal angle. This is especially so after the Defence Minister’s ‘advice’ to the COAS to court martial the present MS, Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash. Before discussing the issue, let us get some facts right...

Unlike other Class 1 Officers of the central services, officers of the Armed Forces are not government servants. In fact, they are the ‘first’ public servants of the Union. (Their commissions are signed personally by the President). According to the Defence Services Regulations, Regulations for the Army, Para 4 (b), ‘The Chief of Army Staff is responsible to the President through the Central Government for the command, discipline, recruitment, training, organisation, administration and preparations for war of the Army.’ (Though the COAS is responsible to the President through Government, it is not the same thing as to the Government).

The Defence Minister has no power of command over the COAS. There have been instances in the past when the COAS has disregarded the advice of the Defence Minister. I am giving below an extract from the biography of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw that forms part of my book Leadership In The Indian Army– Biographies Of Twelve Soldiers:

Sam was due to retire in June 1972, but was given an extension of six months. He was not keen to continue and had made known his desire to the Prime Minister. However, she wanted him to stay on and told Sam that he would not be allowed to proceed on retirement. When Sam told her that he had no intention of staying on and there was no law under which he could be forced to do so, there was some consternation. Finally someone found a way out. It was reasoned that if Sam received a direct order from the President who was also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, he would have to obey. The President's consent was obtained and his directions published in the Gazette of India, indicating that Sam would continue to hold the office of Chief of Army Staff till the President was pleased to dispense with his services.

A court martial sometimes benefits the accused officer. In such cases, summary punishments or administrative action is the preferred option. Under Army Act 84, officers of the rank of major and below can be awarded up to one year forfeiture of seniority, subject to the right of the accused to elect to be tried by court martial. In many cases, officers choose this option. Why? Because it difficult to secure conviction in a court martial, in the absence of strong evidence. In the case of Gen Avadesh Prakash, all that he is being blamed for is sifarish (recommendation), which will be charged under Section 45 (Unbecoming Conduct). Usually, this section is invoked in cases of moral turpitude, which cannot be proved in the present case. All that he did was make an improper recommendation. There was no element of coercion, since he was not the superior officer of GOC 33 Corps, the latter could have refused to comply with his recommendation.

Coming to General Rath, the charges against him are even more difficult to prove. As the GOC, he was vested with the authority to give the NOC. There was no obligation on him to take the concurrence of the Army Commander, as is being made out. The bogey about National Security is misplaced. Surely, as the senior military officer on the spot, he is best suited to decide on the issue. Is the media more competent to decide this or even the Army Commander or COAS? The Corps HQ is nothing but an office. It is not really a ‘sensitive’ place, like a nuclear establishment or missile facility. In fact, Delhi has several places that are much more sensitive close to civil areas. A high tech facility of the Army is in Anand Parbat. The British High Commissioner lives within a stone’s throw of Sena Bhawan, below the offices of the Military Intelligence and Signal Intelligence Directorates. With the technology available today, even normal conversations can be picked up from window pane vibrations.

It will be extremely difficult to secure convictions through courts martial. Even if the concerned officers are convicted, they will certainly appeal to the Armed Forces Tribunal, or the High/ Supreme Court, which is likely to set aside the judgment. According to Para 103 (a) of the Regulations for the Army, the President may call upon any officer to retire or resign his commission at any time without assigning any reason. Why was this option not adopted by the Defence Minister? After the 1962 debacle, the COAS General PN Thapar was reportedly asked to quit as was the Corps Commander, Lt Gen BM Kaul. Surely, their actions, which cost us hundreds of lives and national ignominy, were graver.

Maj Gen VK Singh (Retd)

Sukhna Land Scam takes a new dimension

GETTING STRICT: Defence Minister Antony steps in to ensure action in cantonment land scam.
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Anthony on Wednesday recommended court martial of Lt. Gen. Awadesh Prakash for his alleged involvement in a land scam in Sukhna cantonment in West Bengal.

Antony made the recommendation after Army chief General Deepak Kapoor ordered administrative action against Prakash while another officer held guilty in the scam, Lt. Gen. P K Rath, was ordered to be court martialled.

"The Defence Minister has recommended for disciplinary action against Prakash also and this includes court martial," said a senior defence official on Wednesday.

The Defence Minister's recommendations reached the army chief on Wednesday.

Kapoor had submitted his action-taken report in the scam to the defence ministry early this month.

Prakash, the current military secretary, was found guilty by a court of inquiry of using his position to influence granting of a no-objection certificate by Rath -- who was commander of 33 Corps in Sukhna -- to a private realtor.

The Eastern Army Commander, Lt.Gen. V K Singh, who convened the inquiry, had recommended court martial of the two officers.

Meanwhile, Prakash was asked to proceed on leave. Prakash is to retire on January 31.

An Army court had indicted the two officers for their role in issuing of a no-objection certificate to a private establishment that falsely claimed to be setting up an affiliate of the well-known Ajmer-based Mayo College on a plot adjacent to the Sukhna military station in Darjeeling district.

Prakash is one of the eight Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Army Headquarters and acts as adviser to the army chief.

As military secretary, Prakash was responsible for the promotions and postings of army officers.

Rath was the deputy army chief-designate but his appointment was cancelled after the scam was exposed.
Sukhna Land Scam: Court Martial Senior Officer
Daily Mail Report
Fort Williams boss wins the War of Generals in Indian Army
Land Scam: Army Chief Gen Kapoor caught at crossroads

Sukhna Scam, Military Leadership and Blinkered Vision

Sukhna Land Scam
My dear Chander,
I sent this article titled Sukhna Scandal: click here to a leading news paper, now about two weeks back. It has neither been published nor the paper have had the courtsy to inform me of its use or oherwise.
I am therefore, noting this article, incase you think proper to circulate it on 'Report My Signals.'
Regards and best wishes.
Harwant
Lt Gen Harwant Singh, Former DCOAS, currently visiting USA

Military Leadership
Dear Chander,
Thank you for your mail. Yes, my talk was listened to with attention, but as I had to catch my train, I hurried out as soon as Shri Sangma the Chief Guest had spoken and thus missed the chat and interaction that usually accompanies tea. The function was very well organised and the military touch was quite eveident.

Please click the link for the soft copy POLITICAL DIRECTION, MILITARY LEADERSHIP AND MORALE; on account of time constraints, I had to leave out/ modify some paras, but the essence was not changed.

Warm regards.
Vijay Oberoi
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi Former Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS)
Former Director Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS)

Pitfalls of a Blinkered Vision
THE PITFALLS OF A BLINKERED VISION by Adm. Arun Prakash (Retd)