Defence minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday blamed the Army for the date of birth controversy involving Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh, saying the Army had not reconciled two different dates of birth for 36 years (1970 to 2006). Gen. Singh also said he agreed with the minister, noting that records were not reconciled within the Army itself. The minister pointed out that the government had earlier gone by the advice of Army Headquarters on the matter, insisting that there was no civil-military conflict or controversy.

He added the issue is now “beyond the government” and will be decided by the Supreme Court.
“It is not a civil-military controversy. Unfortunately, without any motive, for 36 years, the Army maintained two DoBs. That is why the controversy occurred. The Army’s two branches maintained two official DoBs. It should not have happened. But it happened. For 36 years, nobody noticed it. It came to notice only in 2006,” Mr Antony said.
He added: “The government’s decision is not final. When the Supreme Court takes a decision, it will be ap-plicable to the government. Let’s wait for a few days or few weeks.”