New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has issued a gazette notification to amend regulations of three defence forces – Army, Navy and Air Force –related to appointment of Chief of Defence Staff, a post that is still lying vacant since the tragic death of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash in December last year.
The notification states that the government may now consider officers who are serving as Lt Gen equivalent or General equivalent for appointment of CDS.
The officers who have retired in the rank of Lt Gen or Gen but have not attained the age of 62 years on the date of appointment can also be considered for CDS appointment, as per the amended rules.
According to the notification issued for the Air Force, the government may consider an officer who is serving as Air Marshal or Air Chief Marshal or an officer who has retired in the similar ranks but has not attained the age of 62 years on the date of appointment. It said the considerations would be made “if considered necessary, in public interest.”
It said the government may extend the service of the Chief of Defence Staff “for such period as it may deem necessary subject to a maximum age of 65 years”.
Similar notifications have been issued for the Army and Navy.
Rawat, India’s first CDS, was killed in a Mi-17V5 crash near Coonoor on December 8, a development that was seen as a setback for the ongoing defence reforms. It also raised questions about succession in the armed forces.
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