KATHMANDU, Nov 11: Tara Dhwaj Pandey, a two-star general (major general) of the Nepalese Army, has tendered his resignation amid a row concerning his date of birth.
According to a source in the army, Pandey submitted his resignation to Lieutenant General Sitaram Khadka. Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka has been informed about his resignation.
The resignation comes amid the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) also raising concern over Pandey’s date of birth. The anti-graft body had earlier sent a letter to the Ministry of Defense regarding the same. After that, the CIAA inquired about his dispute, resulting in further complications in this issue.
There was a growing controversy inside and outside the army regarding high-ranking officer Pandey's age dispute. News reports related to this dispute had been circulating for the past few days.
NA Major General Pandey steps down amid his date of birth row
The controversy over his age began shortly after the NA Headquarters recommended him for promotion as lieutenant general, the second brass leadership of the army. He currently served as the chief of the Directorate of Military Operations within the NA.
As Lieutenant General Saroj Pratap Rana is set to retire, the NA Headquarters recommended Major General Pandey for promotion. With Pandey being recommended for promotion to the post of lieutenant general, he was on track to potentially assume the role of Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) following the retirement of the incumbent CoAS, Prabhu Ram Sharma.
With this development, a fierce competition among prospective senior NA officers is likely for the post of both major general and lieutenant general.
It may be recalled that age disputes have been a recurring issue within the army. A number of senior army officers had also been in trouble in the recent past. Former army chief Purna Chandra Thapa had purged many officers with dubious birth dates. However, the former army chief was also accused of favoring his close aides.
Pandey reportedly has two different dates of birth on his educational qualification certificates and citizenship certificate. A complaint was filed at the State Affairs Committee of the federal parliament regarding this issue.
When Pandey joined the army as an Officer Cadet in 1986, his citizenship certificate indicated a date of birth of December 8, 1966. However, the controversy arose after it was revealed that his educational certificate stated a birth date of January 25, 1965.
Pandey's SLC board certificate, campus records and Tribhuvan University Examination Control Office registration card show his date of birth as January 25, 1965. But he faces accusations of altering his date of birth on his citizenship certificate to December 8, 1966.
