The Union government on Tuesday regretted that an “unnecessary controversy” was being raised regarding the date of birth of Chief Justice of India, A S Anand, even though the President had rejected such a plea in 1991. “The President`s decision is final under Article 217 of the Constitution,” an official release said in New Delhi. Justice Anand was appointed a judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on May 22, 1975 and prior to his appointment an attested copy of his matriculation certificate was filed with the Department of Justice, the release said. The certificate dated Sept 1, 1951, issued by the registrar, University of Jammu and Kashmir, mentioned his date of birth as Nov 1, 1936, the release said.
S K Sundaram had questioned the date of birth of Justice Anand in 1991. But the then President, after consultation with the then CJI, rejected the contention by an order dated May 16, 1991. Sundaram`s second attempt to reopen the matter in 1999 was also rejected on the ground that the President`s decision was final under Article 217 of the Constitution. Former Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani in his book Big Egos, Small Men has again expressed doubts over Justice Anand`s age.

Bureau Report