Indian Tribunal Strikes Down Rule Denying Jobs to HIV-Infected People

On Thursday in Bangalore, the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal struck down a 1994 police rule that banned HIV-positive people from joining the force. The ruling from the southern Indian state was made public Friday.

Six years ago, the Karnataka police force selected R. Ramesh Rao for a job, but rejected him after a routine medical exam discovered he had HIV. Finding the 1994 policy was "arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional," the tribunal directed the police force to hire Rao and to no longer discriminate against applicants on the basis of HIV status.

Police officials said they would respect the ruling.

"The order has exposed the shortsightedness of those in the top who make decisions," said Shakun Mohini of the HIV advocacy organization Vimochana.

Of India's 1 billion population, an estimated 5.1 million people have HIV. Indians with HIV are often ostracized and denied jobs and proper care.

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