AGE ROW: CHIEF SUBMITS RECORDS

Gen VK Singh hand SC his IMA record, to support 1951 DOB

NEW DELHI: Two days before the crucial hearing on his age row petition Army Chief General VK Singh on Wednesday filed additional documents before the Supreme Court, including his Indian Military Academy record.

The fresh documents running into 100 pages were filed by the army chief's counsel subsequent to a SC bench allowing him to do so. Jauhar had sought for the court's nod while making an urgent mentioning.

"The documents are very important to decide the controversy pending adjudication before this court," Singh's application seeking permission to file the documents said. The army chief has moved the SC chal- lenging the defence ministry's two orders rejecting his representation to consider his year of birth as May 10, 1951.

Singh has sought harmony of records with the Adjutant General (AG) and Military Service (MS) branches.

While the AG branch records carry 1951 as his year of birth, the MS contains 1950. Refusing to accept Singh's plea, the ministry had relied on the MS branch records on his birth year. Singh has now placed before the SC a 1975 army order notifying the AG branch to maintain service record of its officers.

Documents related to ministry's decision to discontinue the army list are part of the fresh papers. Army List is an official document recording personal particular of officers.