Defence Ministry seeks clarification from Army on V.K. Singh's year of birth

The Ministry of Defence has asked the Army to indicate the implications of a change in the year of birth of the Chief of Army Staff General V.K. Singh, amid fresh controversy over different years recorded in two separate branches of the service.

Sources in the government said here on Tuesday that after examining information submitted recently to the Ministry by the Army, the Ministry wrote back to the service to categorically state how the move would translate if the year of birth was recorded as 1951, instead of 1950.

The date of birth of the Chief of Army Staff varies in records of the branches of the Adjutant General (AG) and Military Secretary (MS).The AG branch is the official record keeper for salary and pension, and it records the date of birth as May 10, 1951. However, the MS branch, which is responsible for promotions and postings, records it as May 10, 1950.

RTI question

The controversy cropped up recently following a Right to Information (RTI) query on which the Law Ministry is said to have determined that the year of birth should be treated as 1951. The Army is understood to have sought a change in the record on this basis, and sent the recommendation to the Ministry, the sources said.

Extended tenure

In case the year of birth is treated as 1950, Gen. Singh should retire in 2011; but if the 1951 year is accepted, the Army Chief's tenure should get an extended tenure of about 10 months.

As per rules, the Chief of Army Staff can serve till the age of 62 or for three years, whichever is earlier. Gen. Singh assumed charged as the Chief of Army Staff on April 1, 2010 from General Deepak Kapoor.

Line of succession

The information sought by the Ministry is also aimed at ascertaining the line of succession.

If 1950 is treated as the official year of birth, Gen. Kapoor should be succeeded by Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh, Chief of Eastern Command, when he lays down office next year while Northern Army Commander Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik should be at the helm of the Indian Army, if Gen. Singh gets an extended tenure.

Correction: The last paragraph said Gen. Kapoor should be succeeded by Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh. It is not Gen. Kapoor. It is Gen. V.K. Singh.