The UPA Government on Monday rebooted the process of naming Lt-Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag as the next Indian Army Chief after the Election Commission (EC) sent its nod to the effort earlier in the day after sitting over the Defence Ministry’s request for over 15 days.
The file recommending Suhag’s name has moved to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after Defence Secretary R K Mathur and Defence Minister A K Antony inked it following the EC’s communication reaching the ministry.
With this, the UPA Government is all set to clear 59-year-old Lt Gen Suhag’s name for appointment as the successor to incumbent Army chief General Bikram Singh, who retires on July 31. However, sources said, the formal naming of the new Army Chief could be left to the next Central Government, as was done by the then government in 2004 in the case of Admiral Arun Prakash as the Navy Chief.