No tention over age controversy: Antony

There is no tension between the Defence Ministry and the armed forces on the controversy surrounding the age of Army Chief Gen V K Singh, Defence Minister A K Antony said.

"Let me tell you that there is no tension in the Defence Ministry. We are working as a joint family and the Ministry and armed forces working cordially and there are no problems," the Minister told reporters when asked to comment on issue.

Antony said he has received the Statutory Complaint from the Army chief and will make his decision public after the due process is over.

Gen Singh filed the Statutory Complaint after the Defence Ministry rejected his contention to change his date of birth from May 10, 1950 to May 10, 1951, which, if recognised, would have given him an additional ten months in office.

He has two sets of dates of birth in his service records. The Military Secretary Branch has it as May 10, 1950 whereas the Adjutant General Branch shows it to be May 10, 1951.

The Defence Ministry in its July 21 order had declared the May 10, 1951 date of birth as "non est".