The demand for an association for non-gazetted servicemen under the Delhi Police has been a long-standing one and not peculiar to the protests which broke out outside the Police Headquarters at ITO on Tuesday, said founder member, Delhi Police Ex-servicemen Association, Chhida Singh Rawat.
A retired Delhi police head constable, Mr. Rawat, was a part of a similar agitation in 1967 where demands to permit the forming of associations for the welfare of non-gazetted personnel were raised.
His participation in the agitation had led to his dismissal from the force, he said. “I was reinstated to the force almost after two decades and several litigation processes later,” he added.
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The 1967 agitation had started at the old headquarters in New Police Lines and ended up at the President’s doorstep, reminisced Mr. Rawat.
“In 1967, my colleagues and I had gheraoed the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Prime Minister’s residence over the issue. In 1971, some of my colleagues were reinstated to the force. The sipahis [constables] are the ones who protect the public, So, they should be allowed to form an union for their own and their families’ welfare,” said Mr. Rawat.
Several writ petitions filed by him are pending at the Supreme Court, he said, adding: “We have been fighting for this cause for a very long time and will continue to do so. Higher authorities should know that if any action is taken against the constable, who fired a shot at the Tiz Hazari Courts for self-defense, will not go down well with us.”
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Mr. Rawat added, “In 2009, the Supreme Court had permitted the formation of associations but that has still not come through.”