Close X
Saturday, September 21, 2024
ADVT 
India

Increase in BSF's jurisdiction does not take away powers of Punjab Police, says SC

Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Dec, 2023 01:12 PM
  • Increase in BSF's jurisdiction does not take away powers of Punjab Police, says SC

New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday remarked that the Centre's decision to expand the BSF's jurisdiction from existing 15 km from the border to 50 km does not take away powers of the Punjab Police.

A bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was hearing an original suit filed by the Punjab government under Article 131 of the Constitution against the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification issued in October 2021.

The bench asked Punjab’s Additional Advocate General Shadan Farasat and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to exchange issues to be framed in the suit as it said that it will take up the suit for hearing on January 16 next year.

During the hearing, Farasat, appearing for the state government, contended that the notification issued by the Centre goes against the spirit of federalism as public order and police falls under List II (State List) of Schedule VII of the Constitution.

He said that Punjab's geography and concerns are strikingly different from other border areas like Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gujarat and Rajasthan, as the border area in the state is densely populated, whereas the same in Gujarat and Rajasthan comprises saline marshes and desert land, respectively.

Farasat highlighted that BSF's jurisdiction in Punjab has remained 15 km from the border in all the previous notifications issued by the MHA since 1969.

Section 139 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968, empowers the Centre to notify the area and extent of the border force's operational mandate from time to time. The suit contended that the notification is ultra-vires the Constitution, as it defeats the purpose of Entry 1 (public order) and 2 (police) of List-II of Schedule VII of the Constitution and encroaches upon plaintiff's plenary authority to legislate on issue which relate to or are necessary for the maintenance of public order and internal peace.

MORE India ARTICLES

Aircraft carrying Sonia, Rahul makes emergency landing in Bhopal

Aircraft carrying Sonia, Rahul makes emergency landing in Bhopal
The aircraft was forced to make the emergency landing due to inclement weather with heavy rains lashing Madhya Pradesh since Tuesday evening.  The Congress leaders were returning to Delhi from Bengaluru after attending the two-day brainstorming session of the opposition parties.

Aircraft carrying Sonia, Rahul makes emergency landing in Bhopal

Punjab hikes pension of freedom fighters

Punjab hikes pension of freedom fighters
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said the government has decided to increase the pension of freedom fighters from Rs 9,400 to Rs 11,000 per month. He said that this decision will be effective from August 1.

Punjab hikes pension of freedom fighters

India-US Strategic Clean Energy Partnership discuss future roadmap

India-US Strategic Clean Energy Partnership discuss future roadmap
The ministerial meeting of the SCEP, which was held between petroleum minister Hardeep Puri and US energy secretary Jennifer Granholm, appreciated deepened collaboration to scale and accelerate deployment of hydrogen technologies through the public-private hydrogen task force and other efforts in support of their national hydrogen strategies, including a focus on common cost reduction goals.

India-US Strategic Clean Energy Partnership discuss future roadmap

Mumbai police detect power theft of Rs 1.09 cr by plastic factory, owned booked

Mumbai police detect power theft of Rs 1.09 cr by plastic factory, owned booked
So far, Crohast Plastic Moulding Manufacturing Ltd has reportedly cheated Adani Electricity Ltd.  to the tune of around Rs 1.09 crore. The owner of the plastic factory, Pankaj Vasudevan Nair, has been booked under Section 135 of the Electricity Act, an official said.

Mumbai police detect power theft of Rs 1.09 cr by plastic factory, owned booked

ED files charge sheet against Revenue officials, 12 others in Punjab land grabbing case

ED files charge sheet against Revenue officials, 12 others in Punjab land grabbing case
The ED initiated a PMLA investigation based on an FIR registered by the Vigilance Bureau, Punjab under various sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. An ED official said that Dhoot was arrested by the ED on April 20 and is currently in judicial custody.  

ED files charge sheet against Revenue officials, 12 others in Punjab land grabbing case

CISF nabs 2 at IGI airport with gold valued at Rs 50L

CISF nabs 2 at IGI airport with gold valued at Rs 50L
Two persons were apprehended by the CISF personnel at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle in gold valued at Rs 50 lakh, an official said on Tuesday.  The accused have been identified as Khalid Maksud and Ranjeet Singh.

CISF nabs 2 at IGI airport with gold valued at Rs 50L