India Army Chief Asks Court To Decide His Birthday

NEW DELHI (AP) — India's army chief has dragged the government to the Supreme Court in a dispute over his age and when he is due to retire.

General V. K. Singh says he was born in 1951 and is due to retire in 2013. But India's defense ministry says its records show Singh was born a year earlier and should retire this year.

The government filed a notice Tuesday asking the top court not to decide on Singh's petition until it could present its evidence.

Opposition parties say the spat will affect the morale of the armed forces.

Gen. Singh took over as India's army chief nearly two years ago. He justified his unprecedented court case as a matter of his honor and integrity.