After Maj Gens’ spat, Army clarifies that GoC is the boss

Indian Military Veterans

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 2
The Army Headquarters, displeased with the manner in which two Major Generals had serious differences over protocol issues, has sent off instructions detailing who is deemed to be “in charge” at a station where more than one senior officer of the same rank is based.

The instructions stem from an incident that took place in August at Ahemadabad. Major General Dilawar Singh, Additional Director General of National Cadet Corps, and Major General SS Hasabnis, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the 11 Division based at Ahemadabad, had a public showdown.

The instructions state that the GoC will be deemed to be the boss of the station and the final authority for all matters of the Army. Sources said there was no ambiguity, the GoC was the leader at the level of a Division of the Army and all associated activities.

Major General Dilawar Singh, who is senior to Major General Hasabnis by way of being inducted into the Army earlier, had complained against his “junior”. He had taken umbrage at the manner in which Maj Gen Hasbanis had ordered to stop the screening of Salman-starrer ‘Kick’ at the cantonment. Maj Gen Singh and his wife were reportedly sitting on seats earmarked for the GoC and his wife, the GoC arrived to watch the movie and asked Maj Gen Singh to vacate the seats. A showdown had ensued.

Before this incident, the two Major General's had another struggle. The Ahmedabad Gymkhana, a club in the city, that has the senior-most General in the station as patron of the club. Maj Gen Singh had written to the club stating he was the senior-most.

The two incidents- one at the movie and other of the Club - reached the Southern Army Command Pune. The Army headquarters intervened and expressed an opinion to both Major General's . The act of stopping of movie mid-way was not appreciated even as it was told very clearly that the GoC is the boss.