Tonk likely to become Army deputy chief

Lt Gen VS Tonk is likely to take over as a deputy chief at the army headquarters, a position lying vacant for over three months after the defence ministry scrapped Lt Gen P.K. Rath’s appointment for his involvement in the Sukna case.

Lt Gen VS Tonk is likely to take over as a deputy chief at the army headquarters, a position lying vacant for over three months after the defence ministry scrapped Lt Gen P.K. Rath’s appointment for his involvement in the Sukna case.

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Army sources said Tonk’s name has been recommended to the defence ministry for one of the two deputy chiefs’ post.

Tonk, a Rajput officer, is currently the commandant of Mhow-based Infantry School. He will take over as deputy chief (information systems and training) after being cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Lt Gen VK Singh, who will take over as army chief from Gen Deepak Kapoor on March 31, has been apprised of the move as it is customary to keep the army chief-designate in the loop of sensitive appointments.

Rath, who now faces a court martial, was supposed to take over as deputy chief on November 1, 2009. A Court of Inquiry into the Sukna case, however, had blamed him for granting a “verbal No Objection” and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with a Siliguri businessman without due diligence to facilitate transfer of 71 acres to him.