New Delhi: The government has started considering taking a major decision amid the ongoing controversy over former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane’s memoir-based book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’. Amid the controversy, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) is considering drafting a detailed manual on publishing such books, including imposing approval and a possible 20-year “cooling-off” period on retired and serving officers before writing a book.
Why is the government thinking of a 20-year cooling-off?
The Defense Ministry is considering requiring senior officers from the army and other security services to undergo a long “cooling-off” period before writing a book on their experiences, Moneycontrol reports. The purpose of the proposed rule is to ensure that information related to sensitivity and national security is not made public. Under the proposal, clear procedures and conditions for approval will be decided on for such articles.
When did this idea arise and why?
The controversy escalated during the Parliament session when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi read out excerpts from Naravane’s memoir in the Lok Sabha, citing the unpublished book. The government had objected to it not being published. After this, the spread of the alleged pre-publication copy of the book on social media became the center of controversy, on which Delhi Police also registered an FIR.
Was Naravane’s book finally published or not?
Both Naravane and his publisher have clarified that ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ has not yet been published in any form. Penguin Random House India also said that it only has the publishing rights for the book and if any unpermitted copy is circulated, it is a copyright infringement.
What case of leak did the police register?
Delhi Police said in the FIR that pre-print copies of an unpublished book by MM Naravane were allegedly seen circulating on social media and websites. Police say that this copy was leaked before official approval and hence a case has been registered and an investigation has been started.
Was this leak just an attempt by a “whistleblower”?
The police have indicated in the preliminary investigation that it was not a case of whistleblowing by any one person. Officials believe this was a deliberate attempt to bypass the process so that the material became public without approval. The investigation is now being conducted by a special cell.
Now why is it being said that a change in the rules is necessary?
Currently, under Army rules, serving officers are required to obtain written permission before writing in public, but there is no clear unified rule for retired officers. Additionally, the Official Secrets Act places a lifetime ban on the disclosure of sensitive information. The proposed rules will try to bridge this gap.
What will be the new process for retired officers?
The government intends that in the future even retired officers should take explicit permission from the Defense Ministry before writing a book. If the book contains sensitive material, it will need to be checked and filtered by the ministry. Under the new rules, the process will be clear, standardized, and time-bound.
Is this issue hot in Parliament and politics also?
The controversy was also raised during the Parliament session, when the opposition accused the government of suppressing democratic rights. After this the political debate intensified and the matter became a cause of discussion and disruption in the Lok Sabha.
