Documentary evidence shows that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. V.K. Singh had given a commitment to the Army both in 2008 and 2009 (before becoming COAS) that he would accept May 10, 1950, as his date of birth and had even sought to dispel speculation — four months before becoming COAS — that he would not stand by his commitment. But in his petition, Gen. V.K. Singh said the acceptance of that DoB by him in 2008 “was not a free admission” but was made “under an apprehension of some proceeding being initiated against him”. Gen. Singh, in his petition, has said the acceptance then was made “in good faith and in the interest of the organisation”.
The Army chief wants the government to recognise May 10, 1951, as his date of birth. Gen. Singh, in his petition filed in the Supreme Court now, has termed the Government order of rejection of his statutory complaint in December, 2011, as “flimsy”. Documents show that on January 30, 2008, Gen. V.K. Singh (then Lt. Gen.) told the then military secretary Lt.Gen. P.R. Gangadharan that he would accept May 10, 1950 as his DoB in official records, saying, “In view of the above constraint and in accordance with the discussions of date, I will mention the DoB as directed.” On November 12, 2009 — just four months before becoming COAS — Gen. Singh told the then Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor, “I have learnt of some misgivings and doubts being raised on my commitment given on my DoB as per your directions. You are well aware that I have not gone back on this commitment. .... I have treated this issue as closed .... I once again reiterate that my commitment to you stands and any doubt or misgivings need to be dispelled.”