Click to play videoNew Delhi: The chiefs of the nation’s defence services now need not queue up to be frisked the next time they board a flight.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has backed down from its earlier decision of not exempting the three service chiefs from being frisked at airports.
Said Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, “The men who guard our borders should not have to be frisked. There are already 11 people who are exempt. They (Chiefs of Defence Services) come in at number 12.”
The Defence Ministry had earlier made such a request but despite it being shot down, had taken up the case strongly once again.
Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla explained the change of the Ministry’s stance.
“Exemption goes on a warrant of precedence,” said Chawla, in a statement.
“Earlier in the list, service chiefs’ ranking was lower in the warrant of precedence. Looking at the fact that they are persons of eminence and because of the Defence Ministry, the list has been expanded”, he explained.
The Civil Aviation Ministry's earlier decision had earlier sparked off a raging debate, for critics were appalled that while Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra was being given the privilege, the very men responsible for the nation’s defence were not.
As of now, only 24 posts have been granted exemption under the law. These include the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers.
Even Union Ministers of State were included in the list recently, after Coal Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had an altercation with security personnel at an airport.
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