New Delhi: With less than a week to go before a Supreme Court hearing on Army chief General VK Singh's petition against the government's refusal to change his year of birth in its records, there is a fresh setback for him.

The Ministry of Defence has written to the Army's official record keeper, the Adjutant General's branch, asking it to reconcile its records. According to the Army's records, General Singh's year of birth is 1951.

General VK Singh's petition on the age issue is before the Supreme Court and is likely to come up for hearing on February 3. General Singh had taken the matter to the Supreme Court on January 16 - becoming the first serving military chief to drag the government to court - in the hope of establishing that he is correct in claiming that he was born in 1951, not 1950. Documents with the Army reflect both dates.

The government's letter to Army Headquarters says that the May 10, 1951 date recorded as General VK Singh's date of birth by the Adjutant General branch has been found to be incorrect and that his date of birth continues to be May 10, 1950. The letter also says that the Adjutant General's branch must comply with the order without any delay.

The Defence Ministry, it is learnt, is likely to tell the Supreme Court that the records have been corrected and the dispute over the year of birth doesn't exist anymore, therefore the General's plea shouldn't be entertained at all.

The case has reached the Supreme Court and for all purposes, the window for comprise is now closed. The Ministry of Defence will oppose the Army chief's plea tooth and nail in the court, but one thing is clear: Whoever wins this battle, the ultimate loser will be institution of the Chief of Army Staff and long term civil-military relations.

Tags: Army chief, Army chief age, Army chief age row, General VK Singh