Thaindian News

New Delhi, Apr 15 (ANI): The Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh, has got a respite from the Union Law and Justice Ministry with regard to the controversy surrounding his date of birth.

According to a two-page legal opinion given by the Law Ministry on February 14, General Singh’s date of birth is May 10, 1951, which means he should step down as Army chief in March 2013.

The Army had earlier opined that General Singh’s date of birth is May 10, 1950, and so he would retire by May 2012.

The Law Ministry said the entry showing 1950 as the Army Chief’s year of birth should be ‘treated as an aberration and credence is to be accorded to the date of birth recorded in High School Certificate issued by the Rajasthan Board’.

The Ministry pointed out that 1950 found mention in just one place, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) form submitted for NDA entry.

The UPSC had in 1965 sought a clarification from General Singh about the difference in the form and his Class X certificate, which showed 1951 as the year of birth.

Comparing his handwritten forms after joining the NDA, the Ministry indicated that some other person might have probably filled the form.

Pointing out that the UPSC rules clearly state that the date of birth as mentioned in High School Certificate is to be accepted as correct and legitimate, the Law Ministry said: “It has also been observed that the UPSC when noticing the dichotomy raised the same query, hence is safe to presume that UPSC accepted the date of birth mentioned in High School Certificate.”

“The document with the AG’s Branch would lead only to one conclusion that the date of birth in respect of the Officer is 10th class certificate, the identity card issued by IMA at the time of commission and the date maintained by the MP-5&6 (custodian of all record of officers),” it added. (ANI)