Navy succession row: Admiral Verma withdraws plea

New Delhi, April 9 (IANS) Vice Admiral Bimal Verma has withdrawn his petition challenging his supersession for the post of Navy chief after the Armed Forces Tribunal asked him to first approach the Ministry of Defence for redressal of his grievance.As per rules, Vice Admiral Verma had the option of filing a statutory complaint with the Defence Minister before taking the legal recourse. He had approached the tribunal challenging the appointment of Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next navy chief to replace Admiral Sunil Lanba. He can approach the court if he was not satisfied with the way his complaint is addressed by the Defence Ministry. The court asked the petitioner why the option of approaching the Ministry was not availed. When the counsel said they were of the view that it was outside their purview, the court gave benefit of doubt and allowed the petitioner to withdraw the plea.
--IANS gd/mr/pg