The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Union Home Ministry and the Border Security Force (BSF) over allegations of misuse of security personnel. A public interest litigation (PIL), filed by Sanjay Yadav, a serving Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the BSF, claimed that jawans were being deployed at senior officers’ private residences for domestic chores, instead of performing their mandated security duties.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya sought responses from the concerned authorities and listed the matter for hearing in January next year.
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Allegations of Misuse and Manpower Strain
The petition highlights instances where BSF and CAPF personnel were diverted to officers’ homes, allegedly even for tending to pets, rather than being posted on operational assignments. Such practices, the plea argues, undermine national security, particularly given that more than 83,000 posts remain vacant across CAPFs and Assam Rifles.
The PIL describes the deployment of security forces for private use as a “gross misuse of manpower” that not only burdens the exchequer but also diverts critical resources away from frontline duties.
Past Warnings Ignored
The petitioner cited a 2016 office memorandum from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which directed that such facilities — including deployment of jawans, vehicles, or security arrangements — be withdrawn within a month of an officer’s retirement. The memorandum further directed recovery of costs if such facilities continued without authorization.
Despite this, the petition states, BSF officials prepared a list of 131 personnel serving retired officers without approval, but no substantial action followed. This suggests the persistence of a wider and unchecked practice.
Call for Independent Inquiry
The plea also alleges that repeated warnings, including a legal notice, went unheeded by authorities. It urges the court to order an independent investigation to assess the extent of misuse and its implications for national security.
For now, the High Court’s notice marks a critical step in scrutinizing the practice. The outcome of this case could set an important precedent on accountability and deployment norms within India’s paramilitary forces.