http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140607/nation.htm#7
AFT can’t adjudicate all cases under Army Act:
SC
R Sedhuraman
Legal
Correspondent
New Delhi, June 6
The Supreme Court
has ruled that the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) had no power to entertain all
cases filed by personnel governed by the Army Act.
Merely because a
litigant “is subject to the Army Act would not by itself be sufficient to
conclude that the tribunal has the jurisdiction to deal with any case brought
before it by such a person,” a Bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan and AK
Sikri clarified.
“It would depend upon the
subject matter which is brought before the tribunal and as to whether it fell
within the definition of ‘service matters’ as contained in Section 3(o) of the
AFT Act,” the Bench held.
The apex court made the
clarification while setting aside a judgment delivered by the AFT’s Chandigarh
Bench in a case filed by Col GS Grewal, posted (on secondment) at the office of
the Director General of Quality Assurances (DGQA) of the Department Defence
Production.
Col Grewal had approached the
AFT challenging the Defence Ministry’s April 23, 2010 order that no further
promotion would be given to the officers permanently seconded to organisations
such as the DGQA and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
unless they returned to the Army.
He had contended that the 2010
order ran counter to the Permanent Secondment and Promotion Policy issued by
the DGQA on November 16, 2007, under which “officers once permanently seconded
will continue in the organisation till they retire and will be considered for
promotion to higher grades against their vacancies.”
The Defence Ministry had
opposed his plea before the AFT on merit and other aspects, including the
tribunal’s jurisdiction to entertain the case. The government had cited the
April 9, 2010, verdict of the AFT’s Principal Bench in a case filed by Maj Gen
SB Akali seconded to the DRDO.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140607/nation.htm#8
58 graduate from Army Cadet College
Dehradun, June 6
A total of 58
cadets of the Army Cadet College (ACC) Wing graduated today and were awarded
degrees during the presentation ceremony organised at the Chetwode Hall of the
Indian Military Academy (IMA).
Of the 58 cadets,
29 were from science stream and the rest from humanities. These degrees were
conferred on the cadets by the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Brig AS Chahal,
Commander ACC Wing, while presenting the College Report highlighted the high
standard and admirable academic performance displayed by the cadets of the
graduating course.
Lt Gen Manvender
Singh, Commandant, IMA, congratulated the cadets for completing their training.
— TNS
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140607/edit.htm#4
The new Cold War
Russia and the
West face-off on Ukraine
S Nihal Singh
Russia's President
Vladimir Putin has posed the question whether the West, led by the United
States, is beginning another Cold War. What is not in doubt is that the Group
of Seven major powers met by ostentatiously leaving out Russia and gave a
warning to Moscow that unless it desisted from helping the rebels in Eastern
Ukraine, who are fighting the central authorities in Kiev, there would be
further sanctions against Russia.
Indeed, all
accounts suggest that this is the most frigid state of relations between Russia
and the major Western powers since the end of the Cold War. The point of
contention of course is Ukraine, and the West felt frustrated that instead of
being able to embrace Russia's immediate neighbour with its immense landmass
and a population of 46 million into the European Union (EU) and the NATO
military alliance, Moscow frustrated the plan.
There is little
recognition in the West, except in Germany, that by pointedly attacking Russian
interests in a country with which Moscow has long and abiding ethnic, religious
and trade interests, it was provoking President Putin. The result, as the world
knows, was Russia's action in annexing the Crimean peninsula, a majority of whose
population is ethnic Russian, and is the home of the important Russian Black
Fleet. Ironically, Crimea was given away to Ukraine by Nikita Khushchev in days
when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.
A series of
Western sanctions against Russia followed, but they were in effect soft
sanctions involving bans on prominent Russians and on some bank dealings. They
were basically to make the point that unlike rather the old game of changing
national boundaries by imperial powers, it was no longer kosher to do so. The
West tacitly accepted the Crimean annexation but was fearful that Moscow would
seek to annex parts of the Russian-speaking south-east.
There were 40,000
Russian troops massed on the Ukraine border and armed rebels had made inroads
in Donesk and Lugansk, among other cities, to take over administrative
buildings. Apart from local fighters, there were credible reports of Russian
fighters coming to the aid of their comrades.
It would appear
that Russian moves were aimed at two objectives: to seek a federal constitution
giving federal powers to the regions to the majority Russian-speaking
population of Ukraine's south-east and to press a non-aligned status for
Ukraine between the West and Moscow.
Seeing the
determination of the West and its anger over Crimea's annexation, Moscow chose
to dilute its original plans to avoid a new confrontation. It accepted the fact
that Ukraine would be integrated into the European Union while seeking a
special dispensation for the south-east and drew a new red line over future
membership of NATO. Further, Moscow accepted the legitimacy of the presidential
election held to replace President Viktor Yaunkovych, who had to flee Kiev,
paving the way for a future meeting between the President-elect, Petro
Porshenko and President Putin.
It is one of the
many ironies of the Ukraine crisis that Mr Porshenko, is an oligarch nicknamed
the chocolate king for his many interests, including those in the confectionery
industry. Thus far, he has struck a confident note declaring that he knows the
Russian leader and knows how to do business with him.
US President
Barack Obama, during his recent visit to Europe, promised a $ I billion plan,
subject to Congressional approval, to beef up NATO defences in eastern European
countries and the Baltic states by the provision of rotating US troops,
stationing of fighter planes and direct assistance to Ukraine to make nervous
allies feel more secure
The truth is, of
course, that the European Union's trade with Russia is vastly greater than US
dealings. Germany, for instance, is a major importer and exporter and Europe
receives about a quester of its oil and gas supplies from Russia. No wonder the
German elite is split down the middle between the hardliners and those who
oppose sanctions against Moscow. Chancellor Angela Merkel is siding with the
hardliners for tactical and geopolitical reasons.
How the increasing
frigidity between Russia and the West will play out remains to be seen but the
crisis involves bigger questions. They concern Russia's place in the new world
order. Understandably, President Putin is resisting the new role assigned to
his country of being a nation of little consequence that can be trampled upon
by a new resurgent West marching under the flag of liberal democracy.
In a sense, the US
and its partners in the West are trumpeting the ideological victory of the West
in a game Washington is trumpeting Moscow lost in the disintegration of the
Soviet Union. Ukraine has assumed importance because it is, in the Western
view, the last nail in the coffin of the Soviet Union.
The West's
difficulty is that after a long line of weak pliant Russian leaders such as
Boris Yeltsin licking the wounds of the catastrophic end of the Soviet Union,
Moscow has regained a measure of its strength and dignity and under President
Putin, now in second avatar as President, is seeking to assert his country's
interests.
Those looking for
a possible compromise have to consider a fair solution of the Ukraine crisis.
It stands to reason that Moscow must receive some satisfaction through the
central authorities in Kiev giving protection to the Russian-speaking
population of the south-east in terms of their linguistic rights and greater
autonomy to conduct their business. More rational western Ukrainians agree but
the bitterness engendered by the crisis is preventing them from grasping the
nettle.
There are American
strategists who dismiss Russia as a Third World country with nukes, but the
wider world, while recognising that Russia is no longer the country it was as
the Soviet Union, is still a power to reckon with. While it is in order to warn
Russia of the consequences of adventurism, the West cannot consign Moscow to a
place of inconsequence.
In the latest
round of power play, Russia has got off the high horse it was riding in
Ukraine. It is now the turn of the US to strike a conciliatory tone.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/arun-jaitley-to-visit-western-naval-command-today-537454?pfrom=home-otherstories
Arun Jaitley to
Visit Western Naval Command Today
Defence Minister
Arun Jaitley may get to see the salvaged INS Sindhurakshak submarine during his
Mumbai visit today where he will review the operational preparedness of the
Western Naval Command.
The submarine had
sunk on August 14 last year after an explosion killing all 18 personnel on
board. It is submerged in its berthing dock in the Naval dockyards in Mumbai
and is being salvaged to verify the exact reasons for the mishap.
The work on the
salvage operations is in advanced stages as the submarine has been lifted from
the ground by the American salvage firm and is expected to be brought out of
water anytime, Navy officials said.
The Defence
Minister may get to see the submarine out of water, they said.
During his visit
to the Western Command, Mr Jaitley will also commission two fast-attack craft
ICGS Achook and ICGS Agrim, of the Indian Coast Guard.
This is Mr
Jaitley's maiden visit as Defence Minister as he has been busy with briefings
by officials and the chiefs of armed forces on the functioning and performance
of various departments.
Mr Jaitley will
also visit INS Viraat in Mumbai harbour and then move to review the functioning
and operational preparedness of the Western Naval Command.
INS Viraat was
till recently the only aircraft carrier in the Indian Navy and the force is
working towards keeping it operational for a few more years to meet its
requirements.
The Western Naval
Command, considered to be the sword-arm of the Indian Navy, suffered major
blows in terms of the loss of INS Sindhurakshak.
The Defence
Minister has been invited by the armed forces to visit far-flung bases to show
solidarity with the troops and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is believed to have
been invited to visit Siachen glacier by the Army and largest warship aircraft
carrier INS Vikramaditya by the Navy.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140605/jsp/nation/story_18480696.jsp#.U5KGXXbACSo
Prioritise defence
buys: Arun
OUR SPECIAL
CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, June 4:
The defence ministry is drawing up a list of major acquisitions for the armed
forces that should be contracted urgently.
Defence minister
Arun Jaitley was understood to have asked secretaries to prioritise
acquisitions based on urgency of requirement and processing of the cases.
Topping the list
of pending acquisitions is the fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The
IAF selected the Rafale fighter jet over two years ago. The cost of the
acquisition of 126 Rafales could now top an estimated $20 billion. The IAF has
also projected a need for six additional C-17 Globemaster III strategic
airlifters.
For the army, the
defence establishment has been aware of the need for heavy artillery guns. The
artillery modernisation plan is estimated to cost about $3.8 billion.
The army’s biggest
force-accretion was set rolling last year with the CCS approving the creation
of a Mountain Strike Corps. To be headquartered in Bengal’s Panagarh, the corps
will be equipped for the China frontier.
A crucial element
in its arsenal will be the ultra-light howitzer, a Bae Systems made M777. The
proposal to buy 145 of these guns has been in the works for over five years.
The army and the
air force have also asked for light utility helicopters that can operate in the
Siachen Glacier area. The Army Aviation Corps has asked for 197 such helicopters.
The IAF has also
selected Boeing’s Chinook CH-47F helicopter for its heavy rotorcraft need and
the Apache Longbow AH-64D for its attack helicopter requirement. There has been
tardiness in procuring 16 multi-role helicopters for the navy costing nearly $6
billion.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-forward-march-women-may-get-to-serve-army-for-longer-tenure-1993753
Forward march:
Women may get to serve Army for longer tenure
In a path-breaking
move towards women empowerment, the Narendra Modi government is all set to
accept Indian Army's proposal to offer permanent commission to women officers.
Unlike countries
such as the US, Israel, Australia, Sri Lanka and Sweden, where women officers
serve in combat roles, India has not opened combat field to women officers.
The adjutant
general directorate in the Army Headquarters, New Delhi, has sent a detailed
proposal to the ministry of defence led by Arun Jaitely to have women officers
in units like Intelligence Corps, Signals Corps, Ordinance Corps, Army Service
Corps and Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps.
"The proposal
is under the ministry's consideration. Beyond this, I cannot say
anything," a top defence ministry official said.
At present, women
can join the army as short service commission officers and get posted in
less-critical branches such as Judge Advocate General branch and Army Medical
Corps and Military Nursing Service.
Until now, the
army's stand has been that women cannot be granted permanent commission as the
bulk of the junior commission officers (JCOs) and jawans, who hail mainly from
rural India, are not yet ready to accept a woman as their leader in combat
situations.
Even the Indian
Navy and the Indian Air Force have also not opened doors to women officers in
combat role.
The mindset of the
forces against offering key positions to women officers can be judged from the
fact that recently IAF chief Arup Raha remarked "women are physically not
suited to fly fighter planes".
Indian Army
allowed women as officers for the first time in 1992 when they were introduced
as Special Entry Group for four years, which extended up to 14 years in 2004.
Even the extended service cannot
promote a woman
officer up to the rank of a Colonel, which is mandatory to be the commanding
officer of the unit.
"By giving
permanent commission to women officers, the army is giving them an opportunity
to command a unit. Though, due to erratic or unpredictable battlefield, keeping
women officers in combat role is a bit difficult, there are places and support
units where women can be posted," said an officer.
In armed forces,
women are recruited as short service commission officers for five years within
the overall authorised strength of the officers' grade
http://www.nation.com.pk/national/05-Jun-2014/first-film-on-indian-army-to-release-in-pakistan-today
First film on
Indian Army to release in Pakistan today
NEW DELHI-
Holiday, the first film on Indian Army is set to release in Pakistan on June 6,
reported Hindustan Times.
Directed by A.R.
Murugadoss, the film stars Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha and is based on an
Indian Army officer. “It is a great start to a relationship between the two
countries. Traditionally, talent from Pakistan would come down to India, but
this would be the first time that an Indian film based on an army officer would
be releasing in Pakistan. It is not only good for relations, but also for the
business between the countries. I congratulate both the countries on this step,”
said the film’s producer, Vipul Shah.
“Akshay is a huge draw in
Pakistan and there was a demand for Holiday, but fans across the border were
not sure if it would see a release there. Now, they’re glad,” said a source
from across the border. The source adds that some sensitive scenes had been
edited to make it a suitable watch for cross-border audience. “The film has
been censored by board members in the three major circuits in Pakistan —
Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad,” said the source.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-retired-indian-army-lt-general-appointed-member-of-un-panel-1993567
Retired Indian
Army Lt General appointed member of UN panel
A retired Indian Army Lieutenant General has
been appointed member of a UN expert panel on peacekeeping that will advice the
world body on how to use new technologies and innovations in that field.
A retired Indian
Army Lieutenant General has been appointed member of a UN expert panel on
peacekeeping that will advice the world body on how to use new technologies and
innovations in that field.
Lieutenant General
(retd) Abhijit Guha is part of the five-member panel of experts appointed by
Under-Secretaries- General for Peacekeeping Operations and for Field Support
Herve Ladsous and Ameerah Haq.
Guha has recently
concluded a term as Director of the Office for Peacekeeping Strategic
Partnerships in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and also served as
the former Deputy Military Adviser in the department from 2010 until 2012, a
statement said here.
The panel would
visit field missions and consult widely with UN member states, partner
organisations with similar field operations, non-governmental and governmental
research institutions and think tanks as well as industry leaders in areas of
interest to United Nations peacekeeping.
The panel would
convene in early June and in its final report, expected by November, would
recommend how UN peacekeeping can benefit from ongoing technological
innovations in a systematic and integrated manner in the longer term.
The initiative is
part of a concerted effort by the departments of Peacekeeping Operations and
Field Support to realise efficiency gains and cost savings from the use of new
and emerging technologies and innovations.
The experts would
advise on how these technologies can be leveraged to enable peacekeepers to
respond more effectively to an increasing number of complex, multidimensional
tasks in challenging field environments.
It would also
examine how technological innovations can improve operational effectiveness,
multiply impact and enhance safety and security of both peacekeepers and host
communities.
The panel would be
led by Jane Holl Lute of the United States, a seasoned expert on peace and
security who is currently the Secretary-General's Special Adviser for
Relocation of Camp Hurriya Residents Outside of Iraq.
The other members
are Major General Michael Fryer of South Africa, Major General Ib Johannes
Bager of Denmark and Walter Dorn of Canada.
The members have
considerable experience and understanding of peacekeeping and in particular the
need for new technologies and innovations to improve performance in carrying
out the critical tasks entrusted to peacekeepers, the statement said.
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