The petition raised the question as to why only applicants from Jat, Jat Sikh and Rajput castes are given appointment in the Presidential Bodyguard formed for the security of the President.

 

According to the petition, the Director of Hamirpur Army Recruitment Office had issued an advertisement on 12 August 2017. Through this advertisement, applications were invited for the post of President's Bodyguard. Along with other qualifications, there was also a condition that only applicants from Jat, Jat Sikh and Rajput castes could participate in this appointment.

 

During the hearing of the case, it was told by the Central Government that there is no discrimination of any kind in the selection of the President's bodyguard. According to a fixed rule which is decided by the army.

 

The President's Body Guard consists of citizens from 14 states and 16 castes (including SC/ST) who are serving and have previously served as the President's Body Guard. Recruitment of soldiers into the Indian Army is governed by the provisions of the Army Rules, 1954.

 

The Center said that the petitioner has repeatedly mentioned caste, religion and region based recruitment in the recruitment of the President's bodyguards which is wrong. Regiments are also named after certain classes/castes/regions and the President's Body Guard is a small unit of 150 soldiers tasked with conducting ceremonies as per protocol at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

 

There was no class based discrimination at the recruitment stage and every caste could join any regiment and personnel were inducted only after rigorous selection. The High Court was told that before this the Supreme Court had rejected many such petitions.

 

After listening to all the parties, the court said that since 2019, no side has been presented by the petitioner in this matter and time is being demanded repeatedly, hence the court rejects this petition and gives permission to withdraw it.