Air Chief reins in his officers with service rules

South Block sources said Krishnaswamy has told the Air Force Commanders as well as Principal Staff Officers that they should not approach Fernandes directly and that all letters as well as statutory complaints should go through Air Headquarters.

Although the service rules specify that communication should be addressed to the next higher command of authority, senior Indian Air Force officers of late have been bypassing Air Headquarters and directly airing their personal grievances before the Defence Minister.

Krishnaswamy reiterated the rules firmly after last year an Air Marshal rank officer decided to directly approach the Defence Ministry without keeping Air Headquarters in picture.

It has now been reinforced that all statutory complaints and letters should be sent to the Defence Ministry only after comments from the IAF.

However, no objections will be raised when Commander-in-Chiefs and senior officers interact with the Defence Minister when the latter visits their formations.

But it is Krishnaswamy’s ‘‘optimisation of resources’’ diktat that has set the cat among the pigeons. Enforcement of this rule simply means that even Commander-in-Chiefs cannot take their flag car for a private round of golf or tennis. Senior IAF officials say IAF officers can take their official flag cars to golf courses only if there is an official function.

‘‘However, the Air Chief has no problems if the official car is used to transport those in need of medical attention,’’ said a senior official.

When contacted for comments, senior IAF officials said the Air Chief was merely asking his officers to follow the laid-down procedure.

‘‘He is just enforcing discipline in the force, otherwise every senior officer will go to the Defence Ministry with complaints,’’ an officer said.

Perhaps, it is time for the civilian bureaucracy headed by Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande to follow suit and ensure that joint secretaries and above do not use their official cars for purchasing groceries.