A Karnataka tribunal on Friday said it has struck down a rule that barred HIV-positive people from joining the state's police force.

The tribunal also said it had ordered that an applicant-- rejected six years ago for a job on the state's police force because he had HIV-- be given a job.

In it's official order to Karnataka police, the tribunal said the rule, enacted by the state force in 1994, was 'arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional'.

The order said the police force must no longer refuse to give jobs to applicants infected with HIV.

Karnataka Administrative Tribunal handed down the ruling on Thursday.

It directed Karnataka's police force to appoint R Ramesh Rao, who had been selected for a job with the force in 1999 but then rejected after a routine medical examination revealed his HIV infection.

Police officials said they would respect the decision.

"The order has exposed the short-sightedness of those in the top who make decisions," said Shakun Mohini of Vimochana, a non-governmental organisation that campaigns for the rights of HIV-positive people.