Army chief VK Singh moves SC on age row

Indian Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh Monday moved the Supreme Court amid a blazing row over his year of birth that could see him retiring on May 31.

The Chief has been maintaining that his date of Birth is 31 May, 1951 which is as per the records maintained by the Adjutant General’s Branch of Army. Whereas, the Military Secretary’s branch has 31 May, 1950 as the date of birth. 

Lawyer Pawan Bali filed Singh's petition in the Supreme Court.

The year of army chief’s birth is important  because it influences the line of succession within the Army. If he retires in on May 31, 2012 Lieutenant General Bikram Singh will become the next chief of Army Staff. But, if his date of birth is accepted to be as 31 may 1951 Lieutenant General K.T.Parnaik will be the next incumbent for the post as Gen. Singh’s tenure will get extended by a year. The army chief is appointed for a minimum period of two years and retires at the age of 62.

A public Interest litigation on the issue is already being heard by the Supreme Court. The only instance of any armed forces' chief going to court against the government is that of Admiral (retired) Vishnu Bhagwat in 1999 when he was “sacked” by the then defence minister George Fernandes.