Journalism of Courage
In an indication that it may be nearing the process for the selection of a new Navy chief after the sudden exit of Admiral D K Joshi, the Defence Ministry has obtained approval of the Election Commission to appoint an officer to the top post.
Ministry officials said permission had been sought from the EC in view of the Model Code of Conduct and has been granted, enabling the start of the process to appoint the new chief. The move to take permission from the EC is seen as being cautious as in the normal course of things, such permission is not required even during the model code as it is an administrative posting. The ministry is likely to move ahead the file for the appointment of a new chief that has to be approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
The top three officers in contention for the post by order of seniority are Western Naval Commander Shekhar Sinha, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Robin Dhowan and Eastern Naval Commander Anil Chopra.
