Archive · 13 Aug 2026
40 Years Ago: I-Day Alert, Air India Jet, Judge Salaries
This article looks back at news from 40 years ago, on August 13, 1986, in India.
At that time, the Delhi Police were very worried about safety for the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.
The worry grew after a famous general, Gen Vaidya, was killed in the city of Pune.
Senior police officers were told to watch their teams closely and would be blamed for any safety mistakes.
Also on that day, Air India decided it wanted to buy a big used Boeing 747-SP jet plane.
The new plane was meant for very important government trips, replacing older planes and the aircraft called 'Kanishka'.
India's lawmakers in the Lok Sabha voted to give High Court and Supreme Court judges higher salaries and better perks, and all parties supported this.
Finally, some political parties argued about a resolution allowing the central government to make laws on state matters.
Most opposition parties called the resolution a danger to the powers of state governments and the country's federal structure, but the AIADMK and BJP did not join the protest.
The Delhi Police sounded a special alert for Independence Day celebrations following the assassination of Gen Vaidya in Pune.
Police Commissioner briefings this year were sterner, with senior officers ordered to supervise their men closely and held responsible for any security lapse.
Air India decided to buy a second-hand Boeing 747-SP for long-range VVIP flights, replacing its 707s and its aircraft 'Kanishka'.
The Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (54th) Amendment Bill and the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill to substantially raise judges' salaries, allowances and perks.
In the Rajya Sabha, opposition parties except AIADMK and BJP opposed the government's first-ever Article 249 resolution, calling it an attempt to erode state powers and damage the federal structure.
- Who
- Delhi Police, Air India, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and India's political parties
- What
- A special police alert for Independence Day, Air India's plan to buy a Boeing 747-SP, bills raising judges' salaries, and a row over an Article 249 resolution
- When
- August 13, 1986
- Where
- Delhi and Pune, India
- Why
- Security concerns after Gen Vaidya's assassination; the need for a VVIP aircraft; improving judges' conditions; and federal powers concerns
Opposition state-ruling parties
Central government
Article 249 resolution on state-list legislation
Opposition state-ruling parties
CPI(M), Janata, Telugu Desam and Akali Dal denounced the resolution as an attempt to erode the powers of state governments and damage the federal structure.
Central government
The government moved its first-ever resolution under Article 249 seeking powers to legislate on state list matters; the AIADMK and BJP did not oppose it.
- Publication date
- August 13, 1986
- Security alert
- Special alert by Delhi Police for Independence Day after Gen Vaidya's assassination in Pune
- Aircraft purchase
- Air India to buy second-hand Boeing 747-SP for long-range VVIP flights, replacing 707s and 'Kanishka'
- Bills passed
- Constitution (54th) Amendment Bill and High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill
- Support for judge pay hike
- Wholehearted support from members of all parties in Lok Sabha
- Article 249 resolution
- Government's first-ever resolution under Article 249 seeking powers to legislate on state list matters
- Opposition to Article 249
- CPI(M), Janata, Telugu Desam and Akali Dal; AIADMK and BJP did not oppose