The defense ministry on Saturday declined Vice Admiral Bimal Verma's request challenging the employment of Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next Navy Chief, failing to spot away seniority.
In its order, the defense ministry exclaimed that the appointment was made contemplating all laid down norms, confirming that seniority can't be the only criteria for the selection, according to officials.
Defense Ministry's Joint Secretary (Navy) Richa Mishra elucidated that though seniority is an important yardstick while appointing services chiefs but it is not the "sole" criteria.
Also Read: Google to close ‘Jump’ virtual reality platform in June
According to the officials, the defense ministry, in its response to Verma's plea, said a powerful selection procedure was followed for selecting the next Navy Head and that the petitioner found unfit for the top post.
The ministry held that no unsubstantiated, frivolous, extraneous or irrelevant considerations have any bearing on appointment of the next Navy Chief, they said.
The Armed Forces Tribunal here is planned to hear the case on Monday. An Attorney of Verma said the vice admiral will challenge at the AFT the government's order rejecting his petition.
Verma is at present serving as commander-in- Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. He had filed a statutory remonstrance with the Defense Ministry on April 10, challenging appointment of Singh, and asked it to reply within 10 days.
However, as there was no reply from the ministry, he reached the AFT on April 24. In his petition, Verma was pondering on the fact as to why he was overlooked for the top post despite being the senior-most in the line of command, terming as "wrongful" the government's decision to appoint Singh to the post.
The government had in March named Singh as the next chief of naval staff, to succeed Admiral Sunil Lanba who retires on May 30. Verma, senior to Singh, was among the contenders for the prime and apex post.