On July 25, the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court delivered a landmark ruling by lifting the ban on government employees participating in activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This decision followed a legal battle initiated by 62-year-old retired Central Government employee Purushottam Gupta, who sought to join the RSS and contribute to its service to the nation—a pursuit he was barred from due to the ban imposed by successive governments since 1966.
Gupta’s 11-month struggle culminated in this landmark ruling, which now allows all central government employees to engage in RSS activities.
The Court expressed surprise at the government’s failure to review or lift the ban prior to this petition. It also questioned the basis and documentation that led to the imposition of such a stringent restriction on an organisation like the RSS, which has been dedicated to national service for nearly a century now.
Gupta, who retired from the Central Warehousing Corporation in 2022, initially hoped to devote his time to community service with the RSS after retirement. However, he soon discovered that the ban extended beyond current government employees to include pension-holders as well.
On July 26, Gupta told Organiser: “The rules prohibiting government employees from joining the RSS were so strict that it was impossible for me and many others to become involved. The penalties were severe, including up to seven years in prison for violating the ban.”
He continued, “During my 39 years of service, I saw many colleagues and friends face suspension or transfers just for participating in charitable activities like flood relief or helping the poor, solely because of their ties to RSS-affiliated groups. I wanted to follow their example but held back due to these regulations.”
Asked why he chose RSS over other organisations, Gupta explained, “There are many social organisations doing good work, including several in Indore. However, there’s often a focus on name, fame, and recognition.”
He continued, “In RSS, there’s no emphasis on names or forced responsibilities. Anyone who wants to join can contribute freely, whether they choose to wear the traditional ‘ganvesh‘ or not. There’s no joining fee, and people can engage in various activities such as yoga, relief work during floods and droughts, and other community services. RSS offers diverse programs through Sewa Bharti, Vidya Bharti, schools, computer labs, and sewing centres, where one can contribute in any way.”
Gupta added, “The best part is that RSS does not inquire about your caste or religion. It fosters an inclusive atmosphere, unlike other social units that often stick to a single community. For RSS, it’s always ‘Nation first.’ I did not want any name for the work I do, hence, RSS was the best. This is among many other reasons to join the organisation.”
Gupta revealed that his father, a government servant, was also unable to join RSS due to the restrictions. Despite this, his father was a committed swayamsevak before starting his career. His family has a long history with the RSS.
“While in school, I attended the Shakha regularly. My father was a staunch supporter of RSS ideology, and during the Emergency, he faced significant hardships. I witnessed my family being penalised for their association with the Sangh, and I couldn’t accept the injustice done to countless RSS workers,” Gupta shared.
He continued, “I often wondered why an organisation like RSS, which contributes so much to society, would be banned. My petition was not just about fighting injustice; I sought to understand the reasons behind this harsh ban. It turns out, no one had any answers.”
Gupta’s petition led the High Court to issue five notices to the government, requesting explanations for the ban on RSS. However, no satisfactory answers were provided.
He continued, “The ban was so unjust and baseless that the court had to request reasons but found none. While there can be ideological differences, it’s unfair to denounce an organisation’s extensive social service work. The court recognised the contributions of Sewa Bharti, Vidya Bharti, and other RSS initiatives.”
Gupta recalled, “The court had asked the Centre to respond by July 11. However, while the case was ongoing, the Union government issued an order on July 9, two days before the scheduled appearance, lifting the ban. It felt like a partial victory at that point, and with the final judgment in my favour, my faith in both the RSS and the judiciary was vindicated.”
Gupta concluded, “I was determined to challenge this unjust ban on the RSS not once but thrice, which led me to appeal to the court. With the landmark judgment in my favour, I can now, at 62, proudly serve my country through the RSS as a retired central government employee from Indore.”
The court remarked, “It took nearly five decades for the Central Government to acknowledge its mistake,” emphasising that an internationally respected organisation like the RSS had been wrongly listed among banned organisations. The court stressed that removing RSS from this list was crucial.
The court questioned the rationale behind labelling RSS activities as communal or anti-secular in the 1960s and 70s, asking for the studies, reports, or evidence that led to this decision. It sought to understand what evidence supported the notion that involvement with the RSS could foster communal feelings or bias, even post-retirement.
The court added, “The aspirations of many Central government employees to contribute to the country were stifled for these five decades due to this ban, which was only addressed when brought to the court’s attention through these proceedings.”
