Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Chandrashekhar Pande, has another month of commissioned service to enjoy the pleasure of wearing his uniform. In an unusual move, the Government of India has given him an extension of service. So instead of retiring on 31 May, he will now hang up his uniform on 30 June 2024.
The ostensible reason is the Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct—a new appointment could be taken as a violation. But it needn’t be that way at all, for it only requires a more alert administrative system to prepare for an eventuality that was looming in any case.
As with battle honours, which are sacrosanct, dates of retirement are equally certain from the day of assuming a particular office. There can be no changing of such dates because institutions like the Army function on the inviolability of this calendar. Meddling with the dates is like shifting pieces on a chess board or a golf ball on the fairway.
The Ministry of Defence knew well in advance that Gen Pande would retire on 31 May 2024. It was known on the day he assumed office because he had crossed 62 years of age, the maximum permissible limit.
And anyway, the MCC isn’t a tenable explanation for the simple reason that the Government of India announced the appointment of a new Chief of Naval Staff after the code had come into effect. The elevation of CNS Dinesh Tripathi was announced on the first day of polling on 19 April. It could only have been possible because the Ministry of Defence paid attention to the dates and the process, thus initiating the file with adequate time available. This was clearly not followed in the case of selecting the next COAS.
Unfortunately, this creates an unnecessary controversy regarding the extension that had to be given to Gen Pande. It is unnecessary simply because it was avoidable if proper procedures had been followed. Someone obviously didn’t, which has led to the government entering largely avoidable waters. But this isn’t unfamiliar territory; the government most notably waded into these waters when the great Lt Gen PS Bhagat, VC, was overlooked for appointment as COAS, due to Gen GG Bewoor being given an extension. But this is a rarity, unlike supersession, which has been practised over the years. Most notably, on two recent occasions.
The Army was clearly unprepared for this extension. Until recently, events were continuing as though COAS was to retire as per schedule—what with the Vice Chief of Army Staff even felicitating him for nearing that milestone!
And on 24 May, as he took the salute as Chief Guest at the Passing Out Parade of the 146 Course from the National Defence Academy, Gen Pande would no doubt have been nostalgic, having himself marched on those steps 85 courses earlier. Melancholic moment indeed, but soon to be overlooked by the controversy of extension.
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A thorough professional
It’s important to highlight and laud his achievements in the middle of this unnecessary controversy.
Gen Pande’s tenure will of course be judged in the context of him breaking the monopoly of combat arms officers as COAS. That glass ceiling had stood since Independence, and as the first engineer officer to be elevated to this role, his professionalism had to be just so many notches higher. This professionalism is also what earned him the appointment of Army Commander on two occasions—the tri-service Andamans and the Kolkata-based Eastern Army. No small achievement, especially for someone not from the favoured arms.
His tenure, too, must be judged for the professionalism with which he conducted himself, and how he guided the Army through trying times, externally as well as internally.
He remained focused on China, which was essentially thrust on him by events even before he took the reins as COAS.
As Eastern Army Commander he would no doubt have had adequate preparation for the larger challenges he’d face in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control. China’s creeping expansionism is just as visible in the East as well. He remained vocal in his warnings about China, demonstrating his respectable professionalism.
His other external challenge, long forgotten in the din of China’s muscling around, was cooling temperatures with Nepal. His predecessor had unfairly cast aspersions against Kathmandu in a most unusual intervention and it took much to rectify that damage.
But the internal challenge of Agniveer recruitment is burning much midnight oil. It has also affected relations with Nepal and is an issue that has to be addressed. The Army, under Gen Pande, has rightly ordered a review of the scheme.
Hopefully, his successor will emulate his style.
Manvendra Singh is a BJP leader, Editor-in-Chief of Defence & Security Alert and Chairman, Soldier Welfare Advisory Committee, Rajasthan. He tweets @ManvendraJasol. Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)