It sets a dangerous precedent

In appointing an Army Chief by superseding the two seniormost and competent Army commanders, the government could set a dangerous precedent. The armed forces are among the handful of apolitical institutions. Cherry-picking from amongst the top commanders for appointment of a chief can set in motion a process of politicisation of our armed forces, which must remain neutral.

The argument trotted out that the appointment of the Chief of Army Staff is the outcome of a wellconsidered “deep-selection” process does not wash. At the Army commander’s level, having gone through a rigorous churning process and fierce competition, each one of them is competent.

Supersession in the armed forces will also lead to politicking at the top level and demoralisation among the ranks. Whatever the professional competence of the selected COAS, due to a widespread perception of his proximity to the political leadership, his image, as a non-partisan officer, as well as credibility will suffer. This, in turn, will affect his authority and effectiveness.

In offering justification for the recent appointment of the COAS, the incumbent’s “nuts and bolts” experience in counter-insurgency has been cited. Nobody has questioned the calibre and experience of the new COAS. However, his two superseded seniors are reported to be equally competent. In the circumstances, the supersession has led to unhealthy speculation and rumour-mongering. Many officers are convinced that the appointment was motivated by extraneous considerations. Some even allege regional parochialism in his selection. This could lead to divisiveness in the armed forces’ officer cadre, adversely impacting its efficiency.

Explaining top-level appointments in terms of a set of criteria would not resolve the problems resulting from supersessions. No set of criteria, like counter-insurgency experience, may be relevant for all times. Can it, for instance, be argued that the northern border is unimportant or modernisation can be given a lower priority?

The security scenario is always dynamic; in fact, it could change even during a single chief ’s tenure. Hence, the appointments at the highest level should take into consideration the overall experience and calibre of the officer, rather than a particular aspect of it which may not always remain relevant. While there may be some limitation in the seniority principle, it is a sound and time-honoured convention, which should not be trifled with.