Controversy and Guidelines for Publishing by Retired Armed Forces Personnel

The controversy revolves around the yet-to-be-released memoir titled 'Four Stars of Destiny' by former Army Chief General (retired) M.M. Naravane. This has led to discussions within the Ministry of Defence (MoD) about establishing detailed guidelines for both serving and retired armed forces personnel who wish to publish books in the future.

Current Legal Framework

• There is no single consolidated law for book-writing by retired Army officers; however, various legal and service frameworks apply.
• The Official Secrets Act applies for life, prohibiting disclosure of classified information or any material prejudicial to national security.
• Retired personnel are no longer governed by the Army Act or Army rules for publications but must adhere to statutory laws.

Proposed Guidelines

• MoD is formulating guidelines incorporating current service rules and the Official Secrets Act.
• Manuscripts containing operational or sensitive details require MoD clearance before publication.

Rules for Serving Army Personnel

• Service rules require prior written permission for literary, political, or remunerative activities outside official duties.
• Material related to classified information, operational details, or issues affecting national security is strictly prohibited.

Statement from Publisher and General Naravane

• Lt. Gen. (retd.) D.P. Pandey emphasized the importance of maturity in deciding what to write about.
• General Naravane endorsed the statement from Penguin Random House India (PRHI) that no copies of the memoir have been published.

Legal Provisions for Civil Servants

• In 2021, Pension Rules for Civil Servants were amended to restrict publication of information by retired officials from intelligence or security organisations without clearance.
• Non-compliance could result in withdrawal or withholding of pension.