Vice Admiral Joshi new Western Naval Command chief

Rejecting Southern Naval Commander KN Sushil's claim to the post on the basis of his seniority, the Defence Ministry has appointed Vice Admiral DK Joshi as the Commander of Navy's sword-arm Western Command.

Rejecting Southern Naval Commander KN Sushil's claim to the post on the basis of his seniority, the Defence Ministry has appointed Vice Admiral DK Joshi as the Commander of Navy's sword-arm Western Command.

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"Vice Admiral Joshi would take over the charge of Western Naval Command from incumbent Vice Admiral Sanjeev Bhasin who would attain superannuation on April 30," a senior Naval officer said on Saturday.

Sushil, who is heading the Kochi-based Southern Naval Command, had filed a 'statutory complaint' with the Ministry, saying he should be appointed as the head of Western Command after the retirement of the incumbent as he was the senior most three-star officer after him in Service.

The demand went against Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma's plans to appoint Joshi and give him experience of heading a crucial command as he is most likely to succeed him next year.

Sources said with the strategic submarine assets of the Navy being deployed under the Vishakhapatanam-based Eastern Command, the Government may appoint Sushil, himself a submariner, as the Commander there later this year.

Joshi took over as the Chief of Integrated Staff Committee, headquartered at South Block here, on December 31 last year.

Earlier, he headed the Port Blair-based tri-service formation, Andaman and Nicobar Command. Joshi has also commanded the aircraft carrier INS Viraat.