Latest news with #GujjarRegiment
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Delhi High Court declines to entertain plea for Gujjar Regiment in Army
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking a direction to the Centre for the creation of a Gujjar Regiment in the Army. Terming the PIL 'absolutely divisive', a Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked the counsel for the petitioner to do some research before taking up such petitions. With the court cautioning the litigant of imposing costs, the counsel chose to withdraw the plea. 'After arguing at some length, the counsel for the petitioner states that she has instructions from the petitioner, who is present in the court, to withdraw the petition. The same is dismissed as withdrawn,' the court said. During the hearing, the Bench questioned the petitioner's counsel which provision of the Constitution, statute, or customary law conferred the right to form a regiment based on a particular community. The PIL was filed by Rohan Basoya, claiming that the Gujjar community has a well-documented history of bravery, having participated in various wars, including the 1857 revolt, Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965, 1971, Kargil war (1999) and counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. 'Despite this rich martial legacy, they [Gujjars] have not been accorded a dedicated regiment, unlike other martial communities such as Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs, Gorkhas, and Dogras,' the plea said. It added that the Indian Army has historically maintained ethnic-based regiments, recognising the contributions of specific communities to national defence. However, the exclusion of Gujjars from the system creates an imbalance in representation and violates their constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, the petition said. 'The demand for a Gujjar Regiment has been raised before, yet no concrete steps have been taken by the government. Given the community's presence in border regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, a Gujjar Regiment would also serve strategic military interests in counter-insurgency and border security operations,' the PIL plea said.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Delhi HC rejects PIL seeking formation of Gujjar regiment in Indian Army
New Delhi [India], May 28 (ANI): The Delhi High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Wednesday that urged the Union of India and the Ministry of Defence to establish a Gujjar Regiment in the Indian Army. The bench, comprising Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, emphasised that government policy mandates equal recruitment opportunities for all citizens, irrespective of class, creed, region, or religion. Expressing dissatisfaction with the plea, the bench criticised the petitioner's attempt to seek the formation of a regiment based on a specific caste. The bench questioned the legal and constitutional basis for the petition, asking the petitioner whether any law or provision in the Constitution grants the right to demand the formation of a separate regiment in the Army. The court emphasised that regiments are formed by integrating people from various regions and communities to uphold national unity. Acknowledging the court's objections, the petitioner's counsel opted to withdraw the plea. Consequently, the bench disposed of the matter, declaring it dismissed as withdrawn. During the hearing, Advocate Monika Arora, representing the Union of India, informed the court that since Independence, the government has maintained a policy of not forming new regiments based on specific communities, classes, religions, or regions to ensure equitable recruitment opportunities. She further highlighted that various petitions, VIP references, parliamentary questions, and private member bills have sought the creation of new regiments based on historical figures, national heroes, and regional identities. Still, the government has remained steadfast in its policy. Petitioner Rohan Basoya contended that the Gujjar community has a long-standing history of bravery, citing their participation in the 1857 Revolt, Indo-Pak Wars of 1947, 1965, and 1971, the Kargil War (1999), and counterinsurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir. Despite this legacy, they have not been granted a dedicated regiment, unlike other martial communities such as Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs, Gorkhas, and Dogras. The plea further argued that the Indian Army has historically maintained ethnic-based regiments to recognise the contributions of specific communities to national defence. The exclusion of Gujjars, the petitioner asserted, creates an imbalance in representation and violates their constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 16 of the Indian Constitution. Establishing a Gujjar Regiment would provide equal opportunities, enhance recruitment, and strengthen national security. Additionally, the plea stated that the demand for a Gujjar Regiment has been raised multiple times, yet the government has taken no concrete steps. Given the community's significant presence in border regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, a Gujjar Regiment would also serve strategic military interests in counterinsurgency and border security operations. (ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Delhi HC refuses to entertain plea to form Gujjar regiment in Indian Army
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a public interest litigation seeking direction to the Centre for the formation of a Gujjar regiment in the Indian Army. A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela termed the PIL to be "absolutely divisive" and asked the counsel for the petitioner to do some research before taking up such petitions. Sensing the court's mood which warned of imposing costs on the litigant, the petitioner's counsel withdrew the plea. "After arguing at some length, the counsel for the petitioner states that she has instructions from the petitioner who is present in the court to withdraw the petition. The same is dismissed as withdrawn, the bench said. The court was hearing a PIL by one Rohan Basoya, claiming that the Gujjar community has a well-documented history of bravery, having participated in various wars, including the 1857 revolt, Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965, 1971, Kargil war (1999) and counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. "Despite this rich martial legacy, they (Gujjars) have not been accorded a dedicated regiment, unlike other martial communities such as Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs, Gorkhas, and Dogras," the plea said. It added that the Indian Army has historically maintained ethnic-based regiments, recognising the contributions of specific communities to national defence. However, the exclusion of Gujjars from the system creates an imbalance in representation and violates their constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, the petition submitted. The plea submitted that establishment of a Gujjar regiment would provide equal opportunities, increase recruitment, and would strengthen national security. The demand for a Gujjar Regiment has been raised before, yet no concrete steps have been taken by the government. Given the community's presence in border regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, a Gujjar Regiment would also serve strategic military interests in counter-insurgency and border security operations, it said. The plea sought to direct the government to conduct a study on the feasibility of forming a Gujjar regiment and to implement necessary measures for its establishment. During the hearing, the bench orally said, "Please understand that you are seeking a mandamus. What is the prerequisite for mandamus? There has to be a right vested in you either by any statute or any law or the Constitution. Which is the law which gives you a right to have such a regiment? Where is that right?" It asked the petitioner's counsel which provision of the Constitution or any other enactment or customary law gives the right to have a regiment of persons of a particular community. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC refuses to entertain plea to form Gujjar regiment in Indian Army
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a public interest litigation seeking direction to the Centre for the formation of a Gujjar regiment in the Indian Army . A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela termed the PIL to be "absolutely divisive" and asked the counsel for the petitioner to do some research before taking up such the court's mood which warned of imposing costs on the litigant, the petitioner's counsel withdrew the plea."After arguing at some length, the counsel for the petitioner states that she has instructions from the petitioner who is present in the court to withdraw the petition. The same is dismissed as withdrawn," the bench court was hearing a PIL by one Rohan Basoya, claiming that the Gujjar community has a well-documented history of bravery, having participated in various wars, including the 1857 revolt, Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965, 1971, Kargil war (1999) and counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir."Despite this rich martial legacy, they (Gujjars) have not been accorded a dedicated regiment, unlike other martial communities such as Sikhs, Jats, Rajputs, Gorkhas, and Dogras," the plea added that the Indian Army has historically maintained ethnic-based regiments , recognising the contributions of specific communities to national the exclusion of Gujjars from the system creates an imbalance in representation and violates their constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, the petition plea submitted that establishment of a Gujjar regiment would provide equal opportunities, increase recruitment, and would strengthen national security "The demand for a Gujjar Regiment has been raised before, yet no concrete steps have been taken by the government. Given the community's presence in border regions like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh , Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Punjab, a Gujjar Regiment would also serve strategic military interests in counter-insurgency and border security operations ," it plea sought to direct the government to conduct a study on the feasibility of forming a Gujjar regiment and to implement necessary measures for its the hearing, the bench orally said, "Please understand that you are seeking a mandamus. What is the prerequisite for mandamus? There has to be a right vested in you either by any statute or any law or the Constitution. Which is the law which gives you a right to have such a regiment? Where is that right?"It asked the petitioner's counsel which provision of the Constitution or any other enactment or customary law gives the right to have a regiment of persons of a particular community.
