The Indian government said Monday the "unfortunate controversy" over Army Chief General V.K. Singh's age is now over, after the country's Supreme Court disposed off his case.

"I am very happy that this very unfortunate controversy is over. The judgement of the Supreme Court has come. I request my colleagues to please close this chapter and let's all work together to strengthen national security. National interest is supreme. Let us all work together," Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony told the media in the capital.

On whether General Singh has offered to resign in the wake of the judgement, Antony, who embarked on a visit to Saudi Arabia, responded "the government has confidence in the present chief and that was conveyed to Supreme Court also."

The Supreme Court had last week disposed off General Singh's case after he withdrew the petition following the apex court's ruling that the government's decision on his date of birth will apply to his service matters.

In fact, the Army Chief has two sets of birth date in the records. The records with Adjutant General's branch, the government's official record keeper, show it to be May 10, 1951 whereas in Military Secretary's, it's May 10, 1950.

The Defense Ministry had earlier twice rejected General Singh's claim of accepting May 10, 1951, as his date of birth, instead of May 10, 1950, where the earlier date of birth would have given him an extension of 10 months in office, forcing him to move the Supreme Court against the government in an unprecedented case.

General Singh is due to retire in May this year as the government considers 1950 as his year of birth.