The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a plea to change date of birth by a government employee cannot be claimed as a matter of right and cannot be allowed at the fag end of the career.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and A.S. Bopanna said: "Application for change of date of birth can only be as per the relevant provisions/regulations applicable. Even if there is cogent evidence, the same cannot be claimed as a matter of right. Application can be rejected on the ground of delay and laches, also more particularly when it is made at fag end of service and/or when the employee is about to retire on attaining the age of superannuation."