Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:- 

a)whether it is a fact that the three chiefs of Army, Air Force and Navy are not exempted from security searches at airports, while many politicians and bureaucrats are; and

b)if so, Government propose to give such senior officers of our armed forces the same status as politicians, ambassadors and bureaucrats vis-à-vis airport security?

ANSWER

(SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)
MINISTER OF DEFENCE

(a) & (b):                               As per existing instructions, the chiefs of Army, Air Force and Navy are not exempted from pre-embarkation security checks at airports. There is no proposal with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to exempt the three service chiefs from pre-embarkation security checks at airports.