MoD seeks AG’s opinion on army chief’s age

Tuesday was the Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh’s birthday. His year of birth has been mired in the news for all the wrong reasons. Its accuracy has been questioned, which has implications on whether he would remain in office for another year. In an unprecedented move the ministry of defence (MoD) has sought advice of the Attorney General, GE Vahanvati on the age row of the army chief, before the matter comes up before the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), for final approval.

The MoD has given all the papers pertaining to the matter, and the law ministry’s opinion to the AG, and sought guidance and advice on the matter, so that a final decision can be taken.

The issue of Singh’s actual birth date has been hotly contested for five years now. There are two views in the army establishment. The Military Secretariat (MS) maintains the chief’s birth date as May 10, 1950, while the AG (Adjutant General) office contends it is May 10, 1951.

In a letter of 2008, then chief Deepak Kapoor, had written to MoD that Singh, then Eastern Army Commander, had admitted that his birth-date was 1950, putting an end to the controversy, but was reopened recently.