Apprehensions Of Punjab, West Bengal Govts Regarding Extension Of BSF Jurisdiction "Ill Founded": Centre

The government on Tuesday (30 November) said that the apprehensions of the state governments in Punjab and West Bengal regarding the extension of the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) are "ill founded".

The Central government had earlier on 11 October amended a 2014 notification and extended the jurisdiction of BSF within a belt of 50 km in certain states, including Punjab and West Bengal, running along the borders of India.

In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on whether the states were consulted before extending the jurisdiction of the BSF, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Mishra said, "Section 139(1) (i) of the BSF Act, 1968 empowers the Central Government to confer powers and duties on members of the force in respect of any Central Acts for the purposes specified therein".

"Government of West Bengal and Government of Punjab have expressed their apprehension that such a move encroaches upon the powers of the State Government. Their apprehension are ill-founded,"the minister said.

The extension of territorial jurisdiction of BSF would result in better and more effective control on trans-border crimes in conjunction and co-operation with State Police, Rai added.