I was firm on taking responsibility: Admiral D K Joshi

A day after resigning as the navy chief, Admiral D K Joshi on Thursday wrote to his colleagues, saying he was "firm" on taking responsibility for the mishaps that have taken place.

"I consulted only myself and my wife before taking the decision to resign. After the submarine mishap, I was firm that I should take the responsibility for it," he said in his internal message to senior officers of the navy.

Taking "moral responsibility", Joshi submitted his resignation on Wednesday, hours after fire and smoke on submarine INS Sindhuratna, in which two officers died and seven sailors were taken seriously ill.

In his resignation letter, Joshi said though the government continued to repose faith is his capabilities, it was becoming untenable for him to continue as the head of the maritime force in terms of accountability.

His resignation was promptly accepted by Defence Minister A K Antony and Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral R K Dhowan was asked to take over as the acting chief till the regular chief was appointed.

Joshi, who became the first chief of the navy to resign over accidents, had nearly 15 months left in the service.

After the navy was hit by the 10th mishap involving its warships in the last seven months, a concerned defence ministry had sought a detailed report from the force.

Joshi served in a variety of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments during his 41-year career, including the captainship of guided missile corvette INS Kuthar, guided missile destroyer INS Ranvir and the aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

In senior ranks, Joshi served as Assistant Chief of Personnel (Human Resource Development), in Warship Production and Acquisition as the Assistant Controller of the Aircraft Carrier Programme and thereafter in the Operations Branch both as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Information Warfare and Operations) and as the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.

Image: Admiral D K Joshi