Pradeep Nandrajog, J.

The factual backdrop leading to filing of the present petition is that the Home Guards organization was raised in India in the erstwhile State of Bombay in the year 1946 for the purpose of assisting the police in controlling civil disturbances and communal riots. With the passage of time the service of the Home Guards was utilized throughout India for purposes as diverse as maintenance of law and order and providing help in natural calamities like floods, fires, famines etc.

2. On November 29 and 30,1966 a meeting was held in the office of Director General, Civil Defence Ministry of Affairs to discuss the organization of the Border Wing of the Home Guards in Punjab and Rajasthan. The salient features of minutes of said meeting are being noted herein under: -

"1. The DGCD welcomed the Commandants General Home Guards of the Punjab and Rajasthan and stated that the August-September 65 operations had brought out following in regard to Home Guards: -

(a) Rural Home Guards in close proximity to the Border had understandably become involved in the