The Asian Age:Tuesday,January 17, 2012.
In 2006, the date of birth (DoB) discrepancy in official records of Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh commissioned in service in 1970 first came to the serious attention of the government. After all, the officer concerned was in line to become the Army Chief in a few years. At that time, the Army top brass under Gen. J.J. Singh raised the matter with (then) Maj. Gen. Singh.
The Adjutant General Branch of the Army had recorded the DoB as May 10, 1951, (based on the Class 10 certificate) while the military secretary branch recorded the DoB as May 10, 1950 (based on the 1960s UPSC form of the officer for admission to the NDA). The Army then decided that Maj. Gen. V.K. Singh’s DoB would be regarded as May 10, 1950, for his promotion as a corps commander with rank of Lt. General. After detailed correspondence, Maj. Gen. Singh, with much reluctance, agreed to the Army’s decision but was never reconciled to it. He then went on to become COAS in 2010.
The matter then surfaced in April last year after a RTI application to the Army was referred to the law ministry which recommended that May 10, 1951, be accepted as Gen. Singh’s DoB. However, soon after, the MoD, after the advice of the attorney-general, decided that May 10, 1950, be continued to be regarded as the COAS’ DoB since any change in DoB would not be legally tenable.
However, Gen. Singh is understood to have told the government that his UPSC form for admission to the NDA was filled up by one of his teachers. Gen. Singh is also understood to have argued that the Army top brass previously made no efforts to correct the anomaly despite his requests.
The matter then surfaced in April last year after a RTI application to the Army was referred to the law ministry which recommended that May 10, 1951, be accepted as Gen. Singh’s DoB. However, soon after, the MoD, after the advice of the attorney-general, decided that May 10, 1950, be continued to be regarded as the COAS’ DoB since any change in DoB would not be legally tenable.
However, Gen. Singh is understood to have told the government that his UPSC form for admission to the NDA was filled up by one of his teachers. Gen. Singh is also understood to have argued that the Army top brass previously made no efforts to correct the anomaly despite his requests.
.JPG)
.JPG)
