Age row: Govt rules out compromise with Army chief V K Singh

NEW DELHI: Demonstrating its tough stance, the government on Friday night ruled out any compromise with Army chief Gen V K Singh over his age issue which has been dragged to the Supreme Court.

The government also made it clear that there was no move to appoint Gen Singh as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a post which is at conceptual stage and is proposed to be above the heads of the three defence services.

"No compromise formula is being worked out," a government source said while rejecting reports which suggested that such a move was in the works.

There have been reports which claimed that discussions were being held to work out a formula to molify Gen Singh and avert hearing of his petition by the Supreme Court. The reports suggested that appointing Gen Singh as the first Chief of Defence Staff was one of the options being discussed with him.

Gen Singh filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday challenging the government's rejection of his claim on his date of birth. He says his date of birth is May 10, 1951 as per his matriculation certificate but the defence ministry recently rejected his contention, arguing that his date of birth entered in some Army records was May 10,1950.

As per the government decision, he will retire on May 31 this year but if his contention is upheld, he will get a tenure till March 2013. In his own petition, the army chief has contended that he was treated by the government in a manner which reflects total lack of procedure and principles of natural justice in deciding his age.
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