New Delhi: Former Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief PV Naik has urged the government to involve retired service chiefs in the selection of military heads. In a letter written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Naik has urged that former chiefs be inducted into panels for selecting future military chiefs.

“Sir, I have a small suggestion regarding the selection of Chiefs. Nobody denies that merit-based selection, with due deference to seniority, is the best method. The question is who determines merit? Is it the RM under Def Secy’s advice? Is it the PMO? Is it Intel or the NSA?” Naik has said in his letter.

All the above have only peripheral knowledge of the officer concerned. Besides political leanings, we need to factor in professionalism too. So whose advice counts in the Appointments Committee? May I suggest a panel involving all the above plus an ex-Chief of the same Service,” he has further said in his letter, news agency ANI reported.

Naik’s letter comes ahead of a scheduled change of leadership in the IAF when incumbent Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa retires. Interestingly, the appointment of incumbent Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh has also been challenged in the court by Vice Admiral Bimal Verma even as the former has taken over the office of CNS.

“We should start small, say at Director level, and make it work before taking it further. This, sir, is the first step. Without this, the rest is cosmetic,” Naik said in his letter.