SC dismisses plea against Army Chief-designate

New Delhi: In a major relief for Lieutenant General Bikram Singh, who is slated to succeed General V K Singh as the next army chief, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) against him. The PIL opposed the appointment of Lt General Bikram Singh as the next chief.

The apex court said that all relevant facts were placed before the Cabinet Committee of Appointment (CCA) before the appointment of Lt General Singh. The PIL had alleged that the appointment of the next army chief was communal.

Earlier, the apex court had directed the Central government to place before it the file pertaining to the appointment of Lt Gen Singh. It had also asked for his service record.

The PIL, filed on April 4, had opposed the appointment of Lt General Bikram Singh as the next army chief.

The army-chief designate was accused of being involved in a fake encounter in the Kashmir Valley during a counter-insurgency operation.

The PIL, filed on April 4, had also accused the next army chief of failing to act against officers accused of sexual harassment when he was heading a peacekeeping force in Congo.

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