On a particular server , select sysdate from dual was showing only DD-MON-RR not full time stamp . when i checked the nls_date_format , it was set as :- nls_date_format string DD-MON-RR HH.MI.SS AM The issue was with parameter file in which the following parameters were set :- *.fixed_date='2014-05-02' and *.nls_date_format='DD-MON-RR HH.MI.SS AM' then , I commented the *.fixed_date='2014-05-02' and reset the nls_date_format and bounce the DB.