Don’t scrap the rank of Brigadier say veterans

CHANDIGARH: The proposed move of doing away with the Brigadier rank has found little support from the veterans of the armed forces.

TOI spoke to ex-servicemen residing in the Tricity to know their views on the proposed move of restructuring officer cadre and other issues. A majority of the veterans said the time-tested hierarchical structure should not be tampered with. Rejecting the restructuring proposal, Major General B S Grewal (retd) said, “I do not subscribe to the view that we should do away with some ranks in order to draw a level of parity with other services.” Major General Grewal contended that the parity is better achieved through rationalisation of pay.

Brig M S Dullat (retd) said the proposed move will affect smooth functioning. “By doing away with the rank of Brigadier and upgrading it to Major General, problems will be created in the smooth functioning at the level of divisions,” Brig Dullat said.


Questioning the move, Colonel K D Pathak (retd) said who will lead the brigade if the proposal materialises? He said similar proposals in the past had fizzled out. Echoing similar sentiments, Brig Harwant Singh (retd) said: “In their wisdom they can do away with it, but when working with other armies, it may create an awkward situation wherein we would be the only Army, where a Major General commands a brigade.” Supporting the proposal, Lt Gen D S Hooda said it will give more time and stability in the senior ranks of general and above.

Lt General K J Singh (retd) said the proposal is worth considering but after due analysis. He opined that in joint environment like Assam Rifles, the Army should appoint Colonels in deputy inspector general (DIG) equivalent assignments, otherwise it will devalue Major General to DIG.

The veterans were dismissive of the plan to abolish all cantonments to save funds. Former Army chief General V P Malik said abolishing cantonments will have a negative impact on Army ethos and culture. He said there were other ways of saving funds. Ex-servicemen said that regimental and station events should not be ostentatious.