Two former UP Ministers who enjoyed Z category in Mayawati’s Cabinet were made to shed their VIP security tag after the Supreme Court on Monday reminded the former legislators that their life was only as precious as any other ordinary citizen.
“Before the Supreme Court, an MlA and a common man is same,” said a Vacation Bench of Justices AK Patnaik and Ranjan Gogoi. It stayed an Allahabad High Court order of June 19 allowing the two former Ministers Ramveer Upadhyay and Vinod Singh to retain Z category security. “Article 21 (right to life) is same for MlA and common man,” the bench said, while refusing to hear the matter further on merits.
Upadhyay, who was the Energy Minister during BSP rule in UP was given two security guards at full state expense while for two others he had to deposit half the cost. Upadhyay who was represented by senior advocate AMS Singhvi argued that he faced terror threat and the State security assessing committee for political reasons downgraded his security status.
But the UP Government’s counsel Ravi Prakash Mehrotra pointed out that since they ceased to be Ministers, they could not be given Z-category security. Moreover, the former MlA had a criminal record and possessed arms licence. The apex court dismissed Singhvi’s argument and said, “We are satisfied that you are enjoying some security.”
Upadhyay was given Y-security cover during Mayawati regime but the present SP Government withdrew the protection and he was provided only an armed constable for his protection. Pleading for security, he had submitted that he had been attacked several times & needed protection and the security was withdrawn because of political vendetta after the change of Government.
While an X category protectee gets a security cover of 2 staff, under Y-category, there is one security officer & one armed guard. Z-category entails a security cover of 26 staff.