Vice Admiral files fresh plea against supersession

New Delhi: Vice Admiral Bimal Verma on Tuesday filed a fresh petition in the Armed Forces Tribunal seeking quashing of the government orders for designating Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as next Navy Chief and the last week rejection of his statutory complaint by the Defence Ministry.

In his plea, Vice Admiral Verma has contended that the tribunal should call for the service records of both — him and Vice Admiral KB Singh — and see if any “extraneous or irrelevant considerations” were placed before the competent authority to reject his case while the Navy Chief appointment was being made.

The tribunal is expected to hear the plea on Wednesday. “Quash the Defence Ministry order by which the Vice Admiral’s statutory complaint has been quashed on grounds that are extraneous, vague and unsubstantiated…quash the March 23 order by which Vice Admiral Karambir Singh has been appointed Chief of Naval Staff in place of the applicant (Vice Admiral Verma),” the fresh plea filed by Vice Admiral Verma said.