The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL seeking a direction to the government to restore the Army Chief Gen V K Singh's date of birth as May 10, 1951. A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia said that the writ petition filed at the behest of an association is not maintainable.

The court said this is purely a service matter. The court further said it is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case.

The bench did not like that the PIL filed by the Grenadiers Association annexed the opinions of former chief justices of India in the petition on the age row of Army Chief when they themselves said it is not for being putting up before the court.

The bench directed the apex court registry not to accept any writ petitions in cases where opinions of former chief justices are annexed.

Gen. Singh himself has filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the government that his date of birth be treated as 10.5.1951 and not as 1950.

Meanwhile, the Defence Minister A K Antony today said that the government is keeping maximum restraint on the matter relating to the controversy of Army Chief General V K Singh's age.

Talking to news persons on the sidelines of a NCC function in New Delhi this morning, he said that there are constitutional forums to question the decisions of the government and the matter has been brought before the Supreme Court of India. He said that one should wait for the verdict and avoid controversies.

The Defence Minister said that he feels very sorry and sad about the whole episode.