Government appoints Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag as new Army chief

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday appointed Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag as the next Army Chief barely two days before demitting office overruling opposition by BJP following clearance by the Election Commission ( EC).

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the name of Vice Army Chief Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag as the successor to Gen Bikram Singh, who will retire on July 31, official sources told ET.

The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's office in South Block. A formal announcement was, however, not made and is expected on June 1 two months before Gen Singh’s retirement as per tradition.

Suhag was the seniormost officer in the Indian Army after Bikram Singh. Defence ministry had sent its recommendation to the Appointments Committee of Cabinet ( ACC) on Monday after receiving the go-ahead from EC.

Lt Gen Suhag joined the National Defence Academy in 1970 and was commissioned in June 1974, He is an alumnus of Sainik School Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. He has served as a company commander in “Op Pawan” in Sri Lanka, commanded the 53 Infantry Brigade, which was involved in counter insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley and commanded the prestigious 8 Mountain Division in J&K.

ET had reported on May 12 that EC had given nod to the Defence Ministry to appoint the next Army chief and that the Ministry will take call this week. ET was also the first to report on May 2 that the Centre had sought the poll panel’s nod on the issue.

The matter was referred to EC last month in view of the Model Code of Conduct after the BJP lodged protest over the government’s move.