New Delhi, April 26: The Armed Forces Tribunal on Thursday directed the government to address the statutory complaint filed by Andaman Nicobar Command chief Vice Admiral Bimal Verma against his supersession for the Naval chief’s post. The tribunal asked the Centre to take a decision on the complaint by May 15. According to reports, the AFT has set the deadline of May 17 for the government to communicate its decision to Vice Admiral Verma. The next hearing will take place on May 20.

On April 8, Vice Admiral Verma moved the Supreme Court against his supersession and appointment of Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the new Navy Chief. Verma, who heads the Andaman and Nicobar command, would have become the chief on the rule of seniority. However, the Modi government on March 23 appointed Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the new Navy Chief.

The Andaman and Nicobar Command chief is the brother of former Navy Chief Nirmal Verma. Vice Admiral Verma was posted in the directorate of naval operations when the alleged leak of sensitive information took place in 2005. Verma was let off with severe displeasure in his service report, but the admiral missed out on key postings such as heading either eastern or western fleets.

Earlier, Vice-Admiral Verma had withdrawn his petition with the AFT because as per rules, the matter should be first taken up with the defence ministry. On April 11 filed a statutory complaint with the ministry asking the government to decide on the issue within 10 days. After he did not get any response from the ministry, he again approached the AFT. Indian Navy Inducts Third Ship of LCU MK-IV Project at Port Blair.

The government on March 23, appointed Vice Admiral Singh as the next Chief of Naval Staff (CNS). Singh will take the charge on May 31, 2019, after the retirement of current Admiral Navy chief Sunil Lanba. Singh.

This is the second occasion when the Modi government has appointed a service chief overlooking seniority. General Bipin Rawat was made the Army Chief over Lt Generals Pravin Bakshi and P M Hariz who were senior to him in 2016.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 26, 2019 04:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).