Democracy, Governance and Military : Time to introspect for filling trust deficit

Role of Military has never been in dispute to protect the sovereignty of the India. India, where the balance of power is effectively distributed under umbrella of constitution. Democratic set up of Indian governance has never been in question like our Neighboring countries and even role of Indian Military has been well confined and crafted .Therefore, we have never witnessed any cross line of Military and the government but the present clash between Army General and the government is very unusual. Here neither I am trying to make a point that who is at fault or not, nor I have any doubt about the correctness of our Army General’s age but merely trying to see this issue in view of its possible futuristic affect on the governance, healthy relations between Military and Government.

Discussion of good governance is incomplete without reference of democracy. Democracy is obviously prime method and end of governance. If Democracy is life of Good Governance, Speech and expression is its soul. Speech and expression may be used for different reasons and/or by different medium. Right of speech and expression is not absolute but is subject to restriction like slander, defamation, contempt of court or any matter which offends against decency or morality or threat to security of state. Sometimes, the immediate purpose behind particular sppech and expression may differ but ultimately it only lead to strengthen root of democracy if it is exercised judiciously. Therefore there is direct nexus as right of speech and expression strengthens democracy and democracy secure sovereignty and security of nation. Democracy and the Sovereignty do not contradict each other unless it is looked beyond the ambit of welfare of state which is very object of the establishment. Democracy specifies the type of governance but sovereignty protect the governance from the various alien forces. Here it is pertinent to mention that in order to protect the sovereignty, Army is essential to established and maintained.
Democracy and democratic principle is very wide term and must have long roots to ensure the ultimate goal i.e. welfare of people and state.

Coming to the present issue, finally after much speculations, in camera dispute and in studio (News Desk) debates, finally our Army General approached the Hon’ble Supreme Court against its own Government branding it as fight for his integrity and Pride. Apart from the legal issues and balance of convenience which is now in hand of court to decide. Here, I will not going to discuss the established set of judgments of Supreme court with respect of dispute in service age or the Jurisdiction of court. I am only discussing herein the issues other than legal.

First of all we need to understand that why this issue is so important and what is the affect of it. Here point of view of Army General is that if he does not fight for his pride and integrity , it will give wrong signal about his character and therefore , Army as well as civilian may think that General was not truthful. But here the question is even bigger than that. Here, there is a conflict between so called personal integrity and pride and the integrity and pride of nation. Here, General is not mere a person but is a position or office who is heading 2^nd largest Army of World and Pride of Nation. Army has only one school of thought i.e Discipline and Obedience. It is irony of the concept of speech and expression which is misread with individual right to approach court especially when the individual is Army general of Nation. Here the big questions are :

• Whether the individual pride and integrity is bigger than the national pride and sovereignty ?
• Whether the reputation of an individual is more important than the dignity and the pride of Office which he is holding ?
• Whether the Army General is complying with his service to the Nation and Indian Army properly in view of the Oath taken by every Army personal?
• Whether the Army general is setting bad example to his fallow officials and army men?
• Whether this issue is merely a question of his age or his fight extends to his right of continuance in his office for one more year?

We are hopeful that very soon the dispute will be resolved by Supreme Court of India but certainly will leave a scare in form of a question that why the Army General and the Government let their disagreement to public eye and even went one step ahead, and approached court which was not warranted.

Here I must say irrespective of the outcome of the court verdict, the governance is already defeated at the risk of trust deficit between the Military and the Government. It is very serious concern for us that why we have been lacking discipline in every walk of life and now this bug has started affecting the very institution which is based primarily on discipline, command and obedience and gives service for the safety of nation in true faith and allegiance to our law of land.

It’s time to serious introspection at the level of governance, at the level of office of Army general and most importantly at the level of individual conscience who is holding public office.