Jodhpur, Oct. 11 -- The Rajasthan high court directed the state government to provide deployment to each home guard for a minimum of 22 days in a month. The court also issued detailed directions to the chief secretary and the home secretary and asked them to file a compliance report within three months. Nearly 70 home guards filed a petition alleging that the rotation system limits them to six to eight months of work each year. This deprives them of a stable livelihood and causes financial hardship. The petitioners argued that this practice violates their right to equality, dignity, and livelihood guaranteed under Articles 14, 16, and 21 of the Constitution. While disposing petitions filed by Harishankar Acharya and other petitioners, justice Farjand Ali said on Thursday, "The exploitation of the Home Guards in the name of volunteers is an anathema to the founding ideals of justice, equality, and fraternity." The bench said, "This Court is of the view that all Home Guards be deployed on a continuous basis, and it directs the State to take all necessary steps to implement this system forthwith, so as to safeguard both the interests of the Home Guards and the effective functioning of the State machinery." Approximately 1,000 Home Guards per district shall be attached to the police, subject to variation depending on the size of the district, population, sensitivity, local law and order conditions, incidence of violence, and crime rates. The bench observed, "Home Guards currently do not receive pay slips, nor do they have a permanent source of income, which prevents them from accessing loans or other financial facilities. The State shall examine and implement measures to address this deficiency..." The court also directed the state to adopt the model of home guard deployment and benefits implemented in Uttar Pradesh and adapt it to local conditions. "A clear distinction shall be maintained between uniformed and non-uniformed Home Guards, but no discrimination shall be done... The strength of female home guards must, therefore, be suitably increased to ensure greater participation... A committee shall be constituted at the district level to supervise the deployment of uniformed Home Guards," it suggested....