Yes-manship has taken strong roots in Indian army
Recently, the opinion of the Attorney-General was taken by MOD on the still unresolved issue pertaining to the age of the Army Chief Gen VK Singh. Now there's a proposed change in promotion policy of Command and Staff Stream for two star Generals.
INITIATIVE, DECISIVENESS and a burning desire to do get the job well done were the basic hall marks of Indian Army till date. All officers had this unwritten assurance that even if they make a mistake that was not due to dereliction of duty, their senior officers will always hold their hands. Senior officers encouraged junior officers to not to look over the shoulders but decide on the spot. This is what the good leadership is all about - but no more.
If things move this way time is not far when to launch an operation against China or Pakistan may also get referred to Solicitor General for legal advice.
It is true that for providing redress to their grievances, the implicit faith which the Armed forces personnel had in their organizational channels has been considerably eroded .Earlier even when an Officer felt that his superiors had wrongly treated him and had refused to hear his side of the case, he quietly and in an dignified manner put in his papers. Very few went to court. Resort to legal action however has now become a regular practice
This concept of Command and staff stream promotions is not new and was applicable in seventies also in Indian Army. It was then rightly realized that a two star or three star General, promoted in Command stream which meant that he could hold both Command and staff jobs and a General promoted only in Staff stream, that meant he could only hold staff jobs was very discriminatory. Inadvertently, the General promoted in staff stream was looked by his peers and seniors as less competent. Even subordinates obeyed him with a disdain. Indian Army had then changed this policy and all promotions were to take place in Command stream only.
Needless to say that if this policy was again brought back from cold storage by Adarsh Society scam fame Gen Deepak Kapoor, the previous Army Chief, then somebody in Army should have raised the question why? One should not be surprised that it was revived to help out some cronies. This is what is wrong with Indian Army currently. The personnel management policies change with the drop of a hat with far reaching consequences on careers of lot of people. However it does not mean that Army should get hide bound and rigid, that is the other extreme and will spell doom for an still excellent organization and fighting force.
So what is the answer? It is time we implement the system being followed by other modern Armies. We can have an Armed Forces Promotion and Policy Board comprising of Serving and retired Armed Forces officers which is independent of Service Headquarters. Let the Service Headquarters recommend changes that get debated in this Board in depth and approved. The Government only should take cognizance of the final recommendations of this Board.
It is also extremely important that the current CHAMCHAGIRI must give way to the old culture prevalent in Armed Forces that whether it is an operational plan or a policy matter a junior officer must get a right to project his point of view. The junior officers must also be made to understand that they have only a right to say their piece; it is not binding on his seniors to accept his advice or point of view. Personnel management and leadership issues must now get utmost importance. The laid down and existing personnel management polices should only be changed when it is proven beyond doubt that need of the hour demands’ it.
It is true that for providing redress to their grievances, the implicit faith which the Armed forces personnel had in their organizational channels has been considerably eroded .Earlier even when an Officer felt that his superiors had wrongly treated him and had refused to hear his side of the case, he quietly and in an dignified manner put in his papers. Very few went to court. Resort to legal action however has now become a regular practice
This concept of Command and staff stream promotions is not new and was applicable in seventies also in Indian Army. It was then rightly realized that a two star or three star General, promoted in Command stream which meant that he could hold both Command and staff jobs and a General promoted only in Staff stream, that meant he could only hold staff jobs was very discriminatory. Inadvertently, the General promoted in staff stream was looked by his peers and seniors as less competent. Even subordinates obeyed him with a disdain. Indian Army had then changed this policy and all promotions were to take place in Command stream only.
Needless to say that if this policy was again brought back from cold storage by Adarsh Society scam fame Gen Deepak Kapoor, the previous Army Chief, then somebody in Army should have raised the question why? One should not be surprised that it was revived to help out some cronies. This is what is wrong with Indian Army currently. The personnel management policies change with the drop of a hat with far reaching consequences on careers of lot of people. However it does not mean that Army should get hide bound and rigid, that is the other extreme and will spell doom for an still excellent organization and fighting force.
So what is the answer? It is time we implement the system being followed by other modern Armies. We can have an Armed Forces Promotion and Policy Board comprising of Serving and retired Armed Forces officers which is independent of Service Headquarters. Let the Service Headquarters recommend changes that get debated in this Board in depth and approved. The Government only should take cognizance of the final recommendations of this Board.
It is also extremely important that the current CHAMCHAGIRI must give way to the old culture prevalent in Armed Forces that whether it is an operational plan or a policy matter a junior officer must get a right to project his point of view. The junior officers must also be made to understand that they have only a right to say their piece; it is not binding on his seniors to accept his advice or point of view. Personnel management and leadership issues must now get utmost importance. The laid down and existing personnel management polices should only be changed when it is proven beyond doubt that need of the hour demands’ it.
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