New Delhi, Apr 23 (IANS): The Supreme Court Monday summoned the entire record relating to the appointment of Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh as the next chief of army staff.
The apex court bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha will also peruse the record relating to six other regional army commanders and that of the vice chief of the army staff who were in the zone of consideration for appointment as the army chief after the incumbent, Gen. V.K. Singh, retires May 31 this year.
The court summoned the records in the wake of a petition alleging that in the name of a succession plan, Bikram Singh's appointment as the next army chief was manipulated right from 2005, when he was promoted as major general.
The government, hotly contesting the petition, described it as malicious and aimed at denigrating the institution of the army.
The court will take up the matter for further hearing at 2 p.m.