Seniority row: Lt Gen goes on long leave

While no official reason has been given, it is learnt that Katoch was not very happy with an officer who is junior in service taking over the top post.

In fact, during the IPKF operations in the late 1980’s Katoch was commanding a unit of which Bharadwaj was the second- in-charge.

Both officers are from the elite Para Regiment and have earlier operated together in crucial operations including Operation Bluestar.

Katoch is now on 60 days’ casual leave and sources say he has made it clear that working under Bharadwaj is not a viable option. Army HQ is now working to find a solution to the mess and is trying to bring Katoch as a Principal Staff Officer at South Block to avoid any further embarrassment.

This is the second man management problem to dog the Northern Command since General Deepak Kapoor took over as the Army Chief. Earlier, Lt Gen H S Panag had raised objections to his transfer from the command to Lucknow and had even met Defence Minster A K Antony to lodge a complaint.