Indian Navy Vice Admiral Bimal Verma has withdrawn a petition from the Armed Forces Tribunal challenging his supersession. He would seek the "statutory remedy" of approaching the government first. He had been overlooked for the Navy chief's job even being the senior-most officer in the force, Vice Admiral Bimal Verma is currently the commander-in-chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Last month, the government said Vice Admiral Karambir Singh would succeed Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, who retires on May 31, ignoring Vice Admiral Verma.
Vice Admiral Karambir Singh was the second in the seniority list among the three officers being considered for the Navy chief's post. Singh has superseded Vice Admiral Verma.
Vice Admiral Verma withdrew the plea after the tribunal asked why he had not exercised the legal remedy of first approaching the government. He was represented by his lawyer-daughter Rhea Verma and advocate Ankur Chhibber before the tribunal.
"Vice Admiral Verma did not initially complain to the government since the matter would have then come up for review in front of the defence minister whereas the appointment of the next navy chief was made by the prime minister-led appointments cabinet committee," said Rhea Verma.
Admiral Verma appealed before the judges to order the government to address his concerns in a time-bound manner since the incumbent Navy Chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, retires on May 31. The judges, however, refused his request, stating that they do not act as advisers to the government of India.
Judges asked the government counsel whether the Appointments Committee of Parliament could legally re-examine the appointment of Vice Admiral Karambir Singh on the basis of a complaint filed by Vice Admiral Verma.
The government counsel said this was possible. Based on this statement, the judges asked Admiral Verma to follow due procedure before approaching the tribunal for justice. The judges did not rule that this was an extraordinary case that required an immediate legal remedy.
Earlier, the government had appointed General Bipin Rawat as the Indian Army chief, superseding two officers senior to him.