A recent incident at an Indian airport has prompted public debate following reports of cricket hero Sachin Tendulkar bypassing regular security procedures. People from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) permitted him to pass the metal detector without passing through screening, according to orders. Though such an advantage is lawful, critics say that they are no longer respecting one's right under law for all.
Witnesses said that Tendulkar was escorted through the security gate without the regular frisk or baggage check that happened. The CISF explained that their employees are merely adhering to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) requirements (which include Bharat Ratna awardees who are exempt from pre‑embarkation screening). Tendulkar is accordingly entitled to this privilege as the recipient of the Bharat Ratna in 2014.
There is a list of dignitaries which the BCAS has exempted from routine checks. This does encompass the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and certain senior officials, Bharat Ratna recipients. The rationale is to benefit people who possess the country’s top civilian award and make travel easier. Tendulkar is one of just a few living Bharat Ratna awardees, making this exemption unique.
With so many users feeling uncomfortable, the outrage spread widely on social media. Airport security is about safety, critics say, not status, and exemptions can pose a risk. Others argue the exclusions promote a VIP culture, a tradition that has long earned condemnation in India. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that the exemption is part of official protocol and applies to very few people so that isn’t a huge threat.
India has had a lengthy history of discussion about VIP treatment. Between cars’ licenses to travel and security exemptions, citizens can question whether those actions are democratic values. The episode on Tendulkar has rekindled the debate, in which the fine line between the veneration of national icons and equal treatment under the law has come into question.
Sachin Tendulkar’s exemption from airport security checks is not a mistake, but rather a legal entitlement which correlates with his Bharat Ratna award. But the incident has ignited broader discussion about how fair, safe and just such exemptions should continue. While that is all well and good about honoring national icons, the idea of equality before the law mustering public faith nonetheless.
