SC won't stall Suhag's appointment as army chief

New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday refused to suspend the appointment of Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag as the next Indian Army chief, which was sought to be stayed by an officer who contended that he had a better claim.

"There is no reason for us to stay," said Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel told the counsel for the petitioner, Lt. Gen. Ravi Dastane.

Lt. Gen. Dastane had challenged Lt. Gen. Suhag's appointment as the GOC-in-C Eastern Command, which paved the way for his being appointed the next army chief to succeed incumbent Gen. Bikram Singh.

At the outset, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court that Lt. Gen. Suhag's appointment as GOC-in-C Eastern Command was based on his being the senior-most contender for the post.