The response was filed in compliance with the apex court order directing it to respond on a PIL filed by one I S Yadav, a doctor hailing from Rewari in Haryana, seeking abolition of Indian Army's recruitment criteria for its soldiers on the grounds of caste, region and religion.
He alleged in the petition that discrimination prevails in recruiting the bodyguards for the President as only three castes namely Hindu Rajputs, Hindu Jats and Jat Sikhs can alone be enrolled.
“That means no other Indian having any physical, educational and mental capability is eligible for recruitment in President's Bodyguard because he does not belong to Rajput, Jat or Sikh community,” the petition said.
The Army, in its reply, said, “The PBG has three troops (platoon sized sub units) and therefore only three classes could be represented. That is not to say that other classes are not associated with the ceremonial duties at the Rashtrapati Bhawan which also has one infantry battalion posted in rotational tenures of two to three years.”
