Dear Sir, We appreciate your efforts to clean up Civil Administration (MoD) same as Anna Hazare & his Team

is doing. We have a view, if a system is to be improved; one may have be part of it. You may be aware Ex-Chief Secy. West Bengal (Ex-Army Officer) defeated Chief Minister & he is a Minister now. Similarly Ex-DGP (a Sikh Officer) won elections in West Bengal & is a Minister now - an examle of National Integration. Govt. had spent money on these Officers for Administering Justice to the Public who were hadicapped when in Service but now they are free to follow the Rules. If more National Spirited People with Administrative ability come forward & join Politics; they alone are the hope of India. Non Political NGOs would extend full support to such People. Apolitical Vote Bank already exists - People in Uniform -Military & Para-Military Forces), who are illegally denied registration in electoral rolls at their place of posting where they are subjected to local taxes, amounting to denial of Constitutional Right to Vote, because it doesn't suit the convenience of Politicians. Postal Ballot is entitled to those posted abroad under Section 20(8)(d) of RP Act 1950 but wrongly applied to those posted in India. AFs in Punjab have already exercised this Right & elected Candidates on Merit & not on Political Party they belong to. RM is under no compulsion to follow the Rule Book because Non Political NGOs have not joined hands. Brig. (Retd.) HS Ghuman, Shaurya Chakra President All India Veterans Core Group, Regd. Founder Member Georgian (north) Association Mob 09316982294. If you are RIGHT don't GIVE UP - Lord KRISHNA.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = == = = = = = = FORUM FOR INTEGRITY IN GOVERNANCE

(Non-political civil society coalition)

103, Ceebros Bayview, 4thSeaward Road, Valmikinagar. Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai 600041 Ph: 044-42171186; Email: mgd@airtelmail.in Dear Mr. Antony, Dated: 08 June 2012

From News reports we learn that the new army chief, General Bikram Singh, has cleared the way for a major promotion for Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag who is set to replace him in 2014.

Days before General VK Singh retired as army chief, he took severe action against Lt General Dalbir Singh who heads the Dimapur-based 3 Corps. General VK Singh had sent a notice to Lt General Suhag, stating that the latter showed signs of "abdicating responsibility" in handling an intelligence and surveillance unit under his command in a "most unprofessional and lackadaisical manner". The matter pertained to a failed intelligence operation in Assam last year. General VK Singh had also imposed a disciplinary and vigilance ban, which means that an officer cannot be promoted till he is cleared of the charges against him. The army headquarters now have accepted the explanation offered by Lt General Suhag; the army chief has also lifted the ban. The media says that Lieutenant General Suhag will now be promoted to Eastern Army Commander, an office held by General Bikram Singh till he became army chief. If the theory that Lt. General (Retd) Raj Kadiyan, the mentor of Lt. Gen. Suhag, openly propounds on Live TV shows is to be believed, the explanation given by the latter and accepted by General Bikram Singh would be that Corps Commanders should not be held responsible for the crimes, waywardness and acts of gross indiscipline indulged in by units under their command and they should instead shelter and protect the culprits! This is a very dangerous theory that could turn discipline, command and control in the Army upside down. Before proceeding further in the matter we would request you to reflect and ponder over the following issues that have huge bearing on the functioning of the Army. You should carefully examine the events and circumstances that led to the Show Cause notice and the DV ban that have been now annulled? In 2010, a Major serving in the Intelligence Unit in 3 Corps, leveled serious charges against his Commanding Officer. In a letter to the Eastern Army Commander, he alleged that three local boys were shot in the army Cantonment and that the CO of the local Intelligence Unit was virtually running a mafia like operation. By all accounts this CO was acting as a rogue officer and often found in New Delhi bragging to the media that he was acting on behalf of powerful people and that he had the full backing of not just his Corps Commander but even people in the Ministry of Defence and the PMO. All warnings to rein in the Intelligence Officer by General VK Singh to his Corps Commander and to investigate the charges fell on deaf ears. Three things happened in quick succession which led to the Show Cause notice in December 2011 a team from the same Intelligence Unit was caught red handed in a botched up operation in Jorhat (which is outside of the Corps Area of Responsibility) where the Army team led by a lady officer stole a licensed pistol, cash and various other items from the house of a MES contractor after tying up his wife and children. An FIR was filed, three days after which one of the stolen cell phones was used by a NCO from the raiding party. Once the police got involved, part of the loot was returned but the Corps HQ refused to hand over the man saying he was protected by the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Around the same time, the Major who had originally complained about the killing of the three youth, wrote to General Bikram Singh saying that the matter had been hushed up. The Chief of Staff Eastern Command then issued a letter to 3 Corps asking them to get back by the 15th of February. The matter attracted fairly wide attention in Assam and the Chief Minister called up the Army Chief, asking for the army persons to be handed over to the police and action to be initiated against the Intelligence Unit. Another complaint against the CO of the Unit had also been received, this time from a serving Vice-Admiral alleging gross misconduct on the part of the CO of the Intelligence Unit. 3 Corps, however, continued to drag its feet and did not comply with the deadline given. Taking this as serious breach of discipline, COAS ordered Eastern Command to force the issue and a Court of enquiry was initiated. The Eastern Army COI submitted to Army HQ acknowledged a failure of command. Based on this, General VK Singh sent a show cause notice to the 3 Corps Commander on the 19th of May. The Adjutant General, Lt General JP Nehra, was asked by the COAS to inform Lt General Suhag that the Show Cause notice was on its way. Lt General Suhag immediately proceeded on leave. His staff received the show cause notice and its contents were leaked to the media. Officially, only on the 24th did Lt General Suhag receive the Show Cause notice. For having leaked the letter, the Chief then slapped a DV ban on the officer. A weeks extension was asked for, which was given. This extension, effectively, removed General VK from the equation. This show cause notice and the DV ban have now been revoked. The monarchic Line of Succession that brought Gen. Bikram Singh as COAS, brushing aside serious cases pending against him is being touted again to place Lt. Gen Suhag to take over as Army Chief in 2014! The growing feeling among Armed Forces is that while the rank-and-file are subject to severe discipline and are cashiered even for minor offences, the higher-ups with right connections can get away with anything and what is bizarre, get promoted as Army Chief and Army Commander! A distinguished civil servant wrote recently that there are more than straws in the wind signifying the rising anger within the Defence Forces at the double standards to which they are subjected. Constant buffeting by malignant influences also takes a heavy toll of morale within the Forces themselves. The increasing discontent in the Defence Forces on these counts has come to such a pass that even serving officers are circulating the view that it is not worth fighting for a country which is in the grip of such shady characters. Can things be more perilous? Sir, this is an acid test for you. In recent months, your well-earned reputation for honesty, simplicity and probity has taken a severe beating due manipulations indulged in by a corrupt coterie. This is an opportunity for you to redeem yourself and earn the trust and confidence of the rank-and-file of the Armed Forces. We would submit that whatever decision is taken be it

for or against General Suhag you owe to this country and to our great Army, that the rationale behind it is clear and nothing is hidden under the carpet. It will have profound effect as all men in the army are watching and will shape their actions on what is right and what is wrong. Remember, the people are watching and would soon pronounce their verdict. Yours Sincerely, M.G.Devasahayam

Convener [Forum has distinguished former civil servants, police officers, senior advocates, veteran journalists and social activists as its Members]