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With Navy’s top Human Resource (HR) position — Chief of Personnel (CoP) — lying vacant for almost four months, the Defence Ministry reportedly pulled up the Naval Headquarters, indicating the urgency to fill the vacancy.
The Defence Ministry’s observation came after the promotion boards for rear admirals met on May 28 with the Vice Chief of Naval Staff (VCNS), Vice Admiral P Murugesan, officiating as the CoP. Defence Ministry sources claim that this gave one officer an “extra say” in the proceedings of the board.
While refusing to deny or acknowledge the Defence Ministry observation, Navy sources “reserved” their comments over the matter. Sources also added that the decisions of board were “unanimous, unbiased and merit based” and never really depended upon the veto power of any individual.
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Sources within the Defence Ministry added that promotion boards for the rank of commodore to rear admiral were held on May 28, and consisted of the Vice Chief, the CoP, the Flag Officer Commanding in Chiefs of all commands among others.
The boards, which coincided with the Naval Commanders’ Conference, were attended by Murugesan in his capacity of Vice Chief as well as the officiating CoP, which gave the senior officer more “say” in the boards, sources indicated.
The ministry made its observation when the recommendations of the board were further sent to the ministry as per procedural requirements.
In the Navy HQ hierarchy, the CoP is responsible for critical human resource functions of the Navy such as training, recruitment, promotions, transfer, discipline, legal matters besides others. One of the Principal Staff Officers (PSO) of the Navy Chief, the CoP is technically the HR head of the 60,000-odd Navy personnel spread across its three commands.
Defence Ministry sources told The Indian Express that the case of a senior post such as the Chief of Personnel remaining vacant at the naval HQ is “rather unusual” and has not been “heard of in the recent past at the HQ-level”.
Vice Admiral Murugesan, who was promoted as the VCNS on March 31 from his earlier appointment of CoP, has been officiating in the latter portfolio ever since, thus shouldering the burden of two critical posts.
A senior official, who “reserved” his comments regarding the ministry’s take said, “The post of the CoP is very critical. The officer to take over as CoP has been identified. However, his (the officer identified) reliever is yet to take charge as a result of which the officer is not able to assume the office of the CoP. The vacancy will be filled soon.”
Sources further confirmed that the position will be filled by July 31.
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