Army chief's age row settled, he has to retire next year

Army chief Gen VK Singh will have to retire in May next year, with the government on Thursday deciding to treat May 10,1950 as his date of birth, ending a controversy that has been plaguing the force for several months. The decision of the defence ministry,  was conveyed to the army chief on Thursday, sources said.

The dispute had arisen after two dates of birth-- May 10, 1950 and May 10,1951 -- were detected in his service records.

In the service records, the Matriculation certificate shows May 10,1951 as his date of birth but the UPSC application form filled for entry into the Army has May 10, 1950 as the date of birth.

Determination of the correct year of birth was crucial as his tenure as the army chief will be for three years or 62 years of age.

With May 1950 being considered as his date of birth, Gen Singh will have to retire in May next year when he will complete 62 years of age.

Gen Singh had contended that May 1951 should be treated as his date of birth and sought the view of three former Chief Justices of India to seek support.

However, in view of the controversy, the defence ministry had sought the opinion of law ministry as well as attorney general, which opined that May 10,1950 should be treated as the date of birth since it was entered in the UPSC form and if there had been any discrepancy, it should have been corrected within two years.

Gen Singh is now expected to be succeeded by eastern army Commander Lt Gen Bikram Singh, who will be the seniormost Lt Gen at the time of Singh's retirement.