Punjab petitions the SC to stop the BSF from expanding its jurisdiction

Key sentence:

• The Punjab govt has moved toward the SC against the Center’s new notice broadening the ward of the Border Security Force from 15 to 50km.
• Navjot Sidhu praised the public authority and its legitimate group for being the primary state to challenge the expansion of BSF purview.

The Punjab government has moved toward the Supreme Court against the Center’s new notice broadening the ward of the Border Security Force from 15 to 50km. The suit was recorded before the Registrar on Friday, and the Center has been approached to react in 28 days, after which the case will be recorded before the seat.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Sidhu praised the public authority and its legitimate group for being the primary state to challenge the expansion of BSF purview. “The battle to hold the standards exemplified in the Constitution, i.e., to hold the government construction and independence of the states has started… The notice gave to the Center to react,” Sidhu tweeted.

The service of home issues in October altered the purview of the BSF and, in a warning, said that successful from October 11, 2021, the BSF can direct ventures, capture suspects and make seizures up to a space of 50 km inside the Indian region from the International Border along India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders. 

Enabled by this correction, the BSF is currently approved to expand its locale in Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam territories. In five northeastern states (Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya), the BSF’s purview has been shortened by 20km, while in Gujarat, it has been curtained by 30km. There has been no adjustment of their purview in Rajasthan.

“The focal government has updated the ‘Timetable’ indicating the boundary stretch where BSF would have abilities of search, seizure and capture under Acts like Passport Act, NDPS Act, Customs Act just as Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Meghalaya; UTs of J&K and Ladakh; and 50 km-belt in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bengal, and Assam,” the MHA warning said.

Under Section 139 of the BSF Act, 1968, the Center is engaged to inform the region and the degree of the power’s locale now and then.