India's defence minister blames Army for chief's age row

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) Laying the blame on the Army's doors for the controversy over Gen V K Singh's age issue, India's Defence Minister A K Antony today said it occured because the force kept two sets of his date of birth for 36 years and maintained there was no civil-military confrontation. "For 36 years, two branches of the same institution maintained two dates of birth and that is why this controversy," he told reporters here in his first detailed comments on the raging controversy regarding the Army chief's age that is before the Supreme Court now. "It is unfortunate that it took years together but I don't agree with some of you that it is a civil-military controversy," Antony added. He suggested that the government had no role to play in the whole issue as this discrepancy was first noticed in 2006 by the Army Headquarters (AHQ) and reconciled at that level then and later in 2008 by two respective chiefs. Meanwhile, when asked to comment on Defence Minister A K Antony's statement, Gen V K Singh agreed that the controversy over his age was the making of the Army. Antony said from 2006 to 2009, AHQ handled and reconciled the age issue at their level and the government accepted their recommendations and had no role to play in it. "It (two dates of birth) was noticed by the AHQ in 2006 and then it was reconciled at the level of the then Army chief (Gen J J Singh). Army took a decision and conveyed it to the government. I was not there but the government of the day took a decision on the basis of recommendations of the Army," he said. The Defence Minister said when the issue came up again in 2008, the AHQ at the level of the then Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor had reconciled the matter and the government accepted the recommendations of the force. "Like in 2006, in 2008 also, AHQ at their level reconciled it and sent it to the government, which accepted that. What else the government could do?" he said. Antony said after accepting recommendations of the AHQ on the matter in 2009, "the government had thought that all controversies were reconciled, at least by 2009 and thought everything is over but again a complaint came in 2011." He said after receiving the complaint in 2011, the government took three decisions on basis of the opinions given by the Law Ministry and the Attorney General and "that is the only way the government can function". The Minister said that now that the government decision on the issue has been questioned in the Supreme Court, "Let us have some patience and not make this a controversy again and again." "This is now beyond the government and we have no control over it. Let us all mentally-prepare to accept the decision whatever it may be. That will be the final decision of the Supreme Court of India," he said. The date of birth as per Army record keeper Adjutant General's branch is May 15, 1951, based on his school leaving certificate. The date of birth as per the Military Secretary's office, which looks after postings and promotions and maintains a parallel set of records, is May 15, 1950. On appointment as a service chief, the appointee either has a three year tenure or till the retirement age of 62, whichever is earlier. With his appointment from April 1, 2010, the army chief would retire on May 15 this year when he attains the age of 62 as per the Military Secretary office records. If the Adjutant General's branch record is to be taken, Gen V K Singh's tenure will end only on March 31, 2013, when he completes three years. The Supreme Court hearing on the matter will now come up on February 3. Meanwhile, when asked to comment on Defence Minister A K Antony's statement, Gen V K Singh agreed that the controversy over his age was the making of the Army. He said the Defence Minister was "right" in saying that the Army was responsible for the controversy over his age issue. "Absolutely, it is within the Army. After 36 years, you suddenly decide to come up with an issue. There is something wrong with it," the Army Chief told reporters here. "Yes, it is a problem in the Army.... He is right. There is no doubt about that," he added. The Army Chief said steps have been taken to ensure that such a controversy never recurs in future. "Problems should have been sorted out. There was a problem of coordination between the two branches. I had said earlier also that steps have been taken to ensure that such things will never recur in future," Gen Singh added. The branch which deals with the service records in the Ministry has been given full authority in these matters, he said. PTI