SPO's power & privileges restored: Hon'ble court issued writ to to treat the petitioners as SPOs having been so appointed under the Village Defence Group Scheme of 1995

 

The Village Defence Group Scheme-2022 issued by the 

respondents vide Government Order No. 287-Home of 2022 

dated 14-08-2022, insofar as it has the effect of denuding the 

petitioners (heads of the Village Defence Groups) of their status 

as SPOs and the power and privileges conferred on them by the 

Village Defence Group Scheme-1995 issued by the 

Government vide Government Order No. Home-293 of 1995 

dated 30-09-1995, is set aside and quashed.

(ii) Writ of mandamus is issued to the respondents to treat the 

petitioners as SPOs having been so appointed under the Village 

Defence Group Scheme of 1995 with all powers and privileges, 

in particular, in respect to payment of wages/honorarium. They 

shall continue to receive remuneration as is being paid to their 

counterparts working in the J&K Police Department.

(iii) The right of the members of the Village Defence Group, who 

have been held entitled to a monthly honorarium of Rs. 4000/-

under the Village Defence Group Scheme-2022, shall remain unaffected.

Full writ petition