Security checks at the airports are mandatory for all passengers and crew and the Civil Aviation Ministry charges Rs 200 per passenger in the domestic sector and $12 (or equivalent Indian rupees) for international travel under the guise of Aviation Security Fee (ASF). The rates were increased from April 1, 2021. In Indian airports, security checks are waived off for certain listed VVIPs and VIPs namely, the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, MLAs, Supreme Court judges and several others. Perhaps even unlisted persons from the corporate world and big shots may be let off from the checks. In the past the son-in-law of a political party’s supremo was excused from security checks but a few years back it was revoked. Security checks should be exempted only for the President, VP and PM of India. Instead of seeking exemption from security checks, dignitaries should set an example and lead from the front and not make it an issue of ego and display of power. Laws are only as good as their makers and when they themselves break it there is no point in having laws.
