SC refused to abolish domestic work for Army Sahayaks. But Agniveer era can end it

On 31 October, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation that sought to abolish the ‘Sahayak system’ in the Indian Army. In 2009, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence described the practice of employing ‘Sahayaks’ as shameful that should have no place in independent India and recommended its abolition. The Committee said it expected the Ministry of Defence to stop the practice and hoped that the Ministry of Home Affairs would take similar action in respect of paramilitary and other organisations.