The layered oxide LiNixMnyCozO2 (x+y+z=1) is a promising cathode material for the rechargeable lithium ion batteries.The valence state of the freshly prepared LiNixMnyCozO2 as reported by Shaju et al.[1],as well as the influence of the electrochemical cycling of LiNixMnyCozO2 based batteries on the valence state at the cathode-electrolyte interface was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).The quantitative analysis carried out using XPS and Inductively Coupled Plasma analysis with Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) shows that the surface of the cathodes is not stoichiometric but lithium deficient as compared to the bulk.