Madhya Pradesh HC Lifts Five-Decade Ban on RSS Participation for Govt Employees

The Madhya Pradesh High Court criticized the Central Government for taking nearly five decades to correct its mistake of banning government employees from participating in RSS activities. Retired Central Government employee Purushottam Gupta's petition led to the lifting of this ban. The court emphasized that decisions should be guided by law, not prejudice.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has condemned the Central Government for taking almost five decades to realize that banning government employees from participating in RSS activities was a mistake.

In a ruling on Thursday, a bench of Justices Sushruta Arvind Dharmadhikari and Gajendra Singh disposed of a writ petition by retired Central government employee Purushottam Gupta, who challenged the restrictions.

Gupta filed his petition on September 19 last year, arguing against the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules and office memorandums that barred government employees from engaging with the RSS. The court remarked on the lack of any substantive reply from the Union government and highlighted that decisions must be based on laws, not subjective opinions or prejudices.