New Delhi: News that the Army headquarters is in the process of finalising a code of conduct which its veterans will have to follow has met with open criticism from retired officers, who in the recent past have not minced words in hitting out against government, army and political practices.
The plan to hold Army men and women to a set of rules even after they retire was disclosed by Lieutenant General Ashwani Kumar at a news channel appearance. Newspapers like Times of India and Telegraph have both revealed that sources had told them that the army was planning to have serving officers sign an undertaking promising that they would adhere to the code even after retirement.
“But the code is still at the discussion stage…there is nothing final yet. Moreover, the Navy and IAF will also have to be consulted too,” a senior officer told TOI.
In their report on a possible code for veterans, ThePrint has said that the Army Act covers only serving officers. Veterans are, therefore, not bound by it, even though they can retain their ranks after retirement. Once they retire, Army officials’ actions come under the Indian Penal Code.
According to several reports, among veterans who have been critical of the purported move by the Army are Major General (retired) S.S. Chohan, Brigadier (retired) V. Mahalingam, Major (retired) Navdeep Singh and Colonel (retired) Ashok. More veterans are understood to have spoken to the above-mentioned news outlets under the condition of anonymity.
From WhatsApp:
“A time has probabely come for veterans to draft a code of conduct for generals in service”.
Well said buddy!!?
— The Cynic (@Chohan1954) November 3, 2019
If a veteran commits a crime, lodge an FIR & punish him. Where is the question of a code of conduct coming in this? In any case is it legally binding? https://t.co/75oIHsD47L
— Brig V Mahalingam (@BrigMahalingam) November 4, 2019
As stated yesterday, I am not angry on watching the serving General’s interview, only saddened. However, I must share here that there have been times when Ministers Late Mr @manoharparrikar, Mr @rajnathsingh & Ms @nsitharaman have done what senior military staff should have done+ pic.twitter.com/6kutzXcHrF
— Navdeep Singh (@SinghNavdeep) November 3, 2019
Army veterans have often been critical of several aspects of governance and security. In the past year, the defence ministry’s order to reopen cantonment roads to the public, the move to make disability pension tax free only up to a limit and the BJP’s relentless harnessing of the army’s achievements as its own in the run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were all criticised summarily by veterans.