Gen VK Singh age row Government on back foot

Wounded government plans its strategy
The Supreme Court on Friday did not comment on the merit of the government's decision to reject the army chief's statutory complaint on his date of birth issue.

But the harsh words from the apex court - that the decision making process was vitiated - hit the government hard.

The defence ministry was not prepared for such strong criticism. In his statutory complaint to defence minister A.K Antony, General V.K. Singh had challenged an earlier order of the ministry to maintain his date of birth as May 10, 1950.

Whatever is ultimately the outcome of the legal battle between the army chief and the defence ministry, the apex court's rap on the issue has come as a blow to the government just a day after the huge embarrassment of the 2g spectrum licences being cancelled
Read more: General draws first blood: Government on back foot as Supreme Court points to procedural lapses in Army Chief's age row By Gayanant Singh and Gautam Datt at 4:15 PM on 4th February 2012