In the process, a misunderstanding between the service headquarters and MoD has been apparently overcome. The Deputy Secretary was responsible for handling matters relating to the Military Secretary's branch in the MoD. And he caused a crisis of sorts by withdrawing the Government sanction accorded to some senior Army postings. Unlike the recent storm over senior Naval postings, these were recommended by the Army Chief and processed by the MoD for further approval.

``There was never any disagreement between Army Headquarters and the MoD on this issue in any case,'' said an officer in the Military Secretary's branch. ``The only problem was in identifying which of the appointments needed clearance from theAppointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and which did not. The Deputy Secretary should have been advising the Government about that instead of simply withdrawing the sanction,'' he added.

The case relates to the move of Lt Gen M R Sharma, the current Deputy Chief handling training and coordination issues, an appointment of Principal Staff Officer status, and hence of ACC concern. But his next appointment was slated to be as Chief of Staff of the Pune-based Southern Command, a non-ACC appointment. But the problem arose when Lt Gen Sharma wrote to the MoD raising doubts about his next appointment with arguments based on seniority.

What should then have been a matter between the MoD and Army Headquarters turned into a withdrawal of government sanction, ``a needless controversy,'' said a South Block source.