Ministry might go for separate legal opinion
NEW DELHI: In the face of scathing observations by the SC on General VK Singh’s petition on his date of birth, the Defence Ministry is most likely to withdraw the order in question. Questioning the “defective process” that led to the decision, the apex court has not left the Defence Ministry with a choice by asking it to either withdraw the order or that the court will quash it. A disarrayed Defence Ministry was left red-faced to defend its order. Sources said: “Most likely the order will be withdrawn. But the SC’s observation is in no way an indictment of the Ministry or its decision.”
While the court has asked the government to get back to it on the issue, there is not much that the Defence Ministry can do. Sources said the government might seek independent legal advice on it. But, the Ministry is not conceding it as a victory for Singh as the order of July 30, 2011, determining 1950 as his year of birth still holds good.
The government has also not taken kindly to the Army’s refusal to implement its order of January 23 to amend its record and reflect the age as officially determined by the Ministry. The legal cell of the Ministry is taking a serious view of it.