``The people of India have a right to know why the admiral was sacked,'' said Lt Gen P N Hoon. His PIL was prompted by Defence Minister George Fernandes' recent statement that the real reasons for Bhagwat's sacking could not be revealed as they were `scary.'

``The only scary event that could happen to this country is a military takeover,'' Hoon told a press conference on Tuesday, adding that if this was the case then Bhagwat's mere dismissal was not enough and he should be tried for treason.

A highly decorated officer who fought in Indo-Pak wars and led operations to capture Siachen in 1985, internal security operations in Kashmir and Punjab, Hoon said that mere insubordination did not amount to dismissal without trial.

However, Hoon is equally perplexedabout why Admiral Bhagwat decided not to challenge the decision in court. ``Was it because he wanted media attention?'' he asked. He said if this was the case, the Supreme Court should immediately take up the matter and make it sub judice to prevent any further controversy.

Hoon suggested that the matter be taken up immediately by the Chief Justice of India. ``It should be left to his discretion whether to hold this inquiry openly or in camera and he should give the verdict on what happened.''

The retired general mentioned two instances where the civilian authority had overruled military brass instead of dismissing them. One was General Sundarji's suggestion for scrapping the Bofors gun deal. It was overruled by then PM Rajiv Gandhi in the 1980s. Later, when Rajiv knew of President Zail Singh's decision to sack him. He merely transferred some of these generals, Hoon said.