SC takes cognizance of contempt by army chief

The Supreme Court Monday took suo motu cognizance of the former Indian Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh finding fault with its verdict on his age row last year.

A special bench of Justice R.M.Lodha and Justice H.L.Gokhale will Tuesday take up for hearing a suo motu contempt petition by the court's own motion taking note of a newspaper report wherein the former chief of the army staff has been quoted criticising the apex court decision on his age row.

The matter will come up for hearing before the special bench at 2 p.m.

A bench of Justice Lodha and Justice Gokhale on Feb 10, 2012, while dismissing Gen. Singh's petition as withdrawn, had noted in its order the statement by Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati that "the union of India had not questioned the integrity and bonafides of the Gen. V.K. Singh".

Gen. Singh had contended that his date of birth was May 10, 1951 and not May 10, 1950 as mentioned in his service record.

The apex court had said that as far as his service record was concerned, his date of birth would continue to be May 10, 1950 and not reconciled as May 10, 1951 as mentioned in his matriculation certificate.

"As a matter of fact, the question before us is not about determination of actual date of birth but it concerns recognition of a particular date of birth by the government of India in official service records."