Government accepts Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha's plea for voluntary retirement

Laying all controversies to rest, the government on Monday accepted voluntary retirement plea of Mumbai-based Western Naval Commander Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, who was superseded for the post of navy chief.

The government had last week appointed Vice Admiral RK Dhowan as chief of the naval staff overlooking the seniority of Vice Admiral Sinha, who was the senior most naval commander. But Sinha refused to work under his junior officer and hours before Admiral RK Dhowan took over as the 22nd navy chief, he put in his papers.

In his communication to defence minister AK Antony, Vice Admiral Sinha had written that if "justice" cannot be done to him, he should be given voluntary retirement. He is six months senior to Admiral Dhowan, who was commissioned in on January 1, 1975.

"Application of Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha has been accepted with immediate effect. The defence ministry communicated its decision to the naval headquarters,"said an officer.

Vice Admiral Abhay Raghunath Karve, who was hitherto chief of staff, headquarters, western naval command, will be officiating as head of Western naval command till formal appointment is made.

On Thursday, government announced appointment of navy chief, the post, which was lying vacant for more than 50 days after sudden departure of incumbent navy chief Admiral DK Joshi who resigned over repeated mishaps involving warships.

Meanwhile, an inquiry into INS Sindhuratna accident has been completed and its report has been submitted to the Naval Headquarters by the Board of Inquiry set up to investigate the possible reasons for the mishap. Two officers on board were died in an accident on INS Sindhuratna on February 26.