General vs General: Court of inquiry ordered after rift in top ranks

Sources have told ET that the court of inquiry (COI) has been initiated at the Central Army Command on a series of allegations and cross allegations between South Western Army Commander Lt Gen Alok Kler and his deputy Lt Gen KK Repswal. It is being conducted by Lt Gen IS Ghuman, the Central Army Commander who is senior to both the officers involved.

The COI – unheard of in recent times involving such senior hierarchy of the army – has been ordered after a senior Lt Gen was deputed by the Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane to look into differences between the two officers. Things took a serious turn in September last year when Lt Gen Repswal approached the Army Chief with allegations against his senior. In turn Lt Gen Kler too wrote to the Army Chief with a set of counter allegations, sources said.

A report on the matter by the senior Lt Gen – who was also asked to suggest remedial steps – was recently received and reviewed by Army HQ. “The report highlighted certain issues which require greater scrutiny. Accordingly, a suitable senior officer has been deputed to carry forward the process,” officials said.

While the nature of the allegations is not public, officials said that they were “highlighting some functional difficulties in the Command Headquarters, hampering day-to-day work” on the role, charter and duties of various appointments at the Jaipur based command. Sources said that some allegations hinted at possible misuse of authority.

The public spat – though details of the allegations have not been revealed, the fight has become a discussion point within the military fraternity – is an aberration, with veterans unable to recall a precedence in the recent past.

Both Lt Gen Kler and Repswal come from military backgrounds, with several relatives posted to top positions in the armed forces. While there have been differences in the past among top officers, including Army Commanders, they have been handled discreetly, most resulting in the posting out of the junior officer. That the present matter has reached the level of a formal COI reflects the serious nature of some of the allegations.