The Supreme Court will hear Friday the Indian Army chief, Gen. V.K. Singh’s petition to correct his year of birth from 1950 to 1951. He says it’s a matter of honour for him and not a question of the extra 10 months he will serve if the correction is made.
* 1965: Teenager V.K. Singh’s UPSC form for the National Defence Academy examination mentions 1950 as his year of birth.
* 1970: Singh is inducted into the Indian Army’s Rajput Regiment as a second lieutenant. Adjutant General’s branch records the year of birth as 1951 on the basis of school certificate.
* 2006: Age row brought up by Military Secretary’s branch on the basis of the UPSC form as he is selected for promotion as Corps Commander in the rank of Lt. Gen.; undertakes to accept any decision on his age by then army chief Gen. J.J. Singh in ‘organisational interest’.
* 2008: Age records go to Cabinet Committee on Appointments for his promotion to Army Commander; Prior to that, the Military Secretary warns of disciplinary action if 1950 not accepted as year of birth; Singh agrees on 1950 in writing.
* Jan 2010: Appointed as Indian Army chief based on 1950 as year of birth; retirement set for May 2012.
* April 2010: Takes over as Army chief on Gen. Deepak Kapoor’s retirement.
* July 2011: Singh’s petition to restore 1951 as year of birth rejected by defence ministry on advocate general’s advice.
* Dec 30, 2011: Singh’s statutory complaint too rejected by defence ministry on advocate general’s advice.
* Jan 16, 2012: Singh files petition in Supreme Court against age plea rejections.
* Feb 3, 2012: Supreme Court raps defence ministry; asks it to withdraw Dec 30, 2011 order or it will be quashed.
* Feb 10, 2012: Supreme Court to consider whether to admit army chief’s petition or not.
