Date:07/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/07/stories/2007120754141500.htm

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Exemption for Service chiefs

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The three chiefs of the defence staff will be exempted from pre-embarkation security checks at all civil airports across the country, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said here on Thursday.

Recent reports pointed out that less important people enjoyed the exemption but the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force were subjected to security checks at airports.

“I think it is appropriate to give exemption to those who defend our borders,” Mr. Patel told reporters in the Parliament House.

The Service chiefs were included at number 12 in the warrant of precedence issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan, indicating that those who figure in the warrant have been waived from security checks at the airports.

Extended list

The Minister disagreed with the view that such an exemption would lead to fresh demands from different sections. “We have a committee that goes into all such issues before taking a decision.”

He said the list of dignitaries exempted from pre-embarkation security checks at civil airports had been extended to include the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, holders of Bharat Ratna decoration, the Chief Election Commissioner, the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and the Attorney-General of India.