High Court reprimands Centre for delay in clearing decisions regarding border protection

PATHANKOT: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday reprimanded the Centre over delay in clearing crucial decisions pertaining to border protection and preventing drug smuggling from across the border and issued a four-week deadline to decide on the Border Security Force’s impending demands for infrastructure, equipment, etc.

A division bench of the high court headed by Justice Surya Kant on Wednesday warned the Ministry of Home Affairs ( MHA) that if no decision on the matter is taken by February 16 then it will take strict action against concerned officials of the ministry.

The court expressed disapproval over a report prepared by MHA on the status of the demands made by BSF to the ministry when hearing on a petition concerning rising menace of drugs in Punjab resumed on Wednesday.

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It took strong exception to the fact that the status report mentioned that key demands were “referred” to “concerned ministries for necessary approval”.

The MHA report, first reported by ET on Wednesday, mentioned certain “long term” and “short term” measures to be taken for “better border domination”. The status of every proposal of BSF was mentioned in the report. For pavement and replacement of barbed wire, it said “the issue is under technical examination with CPWD and MHA”.

For the proposal of requirement of lateral and axial road the report read “MHA has taken up this matter with ministry of finance”. And for upgradation of border flood lights, it said the issue is “under technical examination with MHA”.

The HC reprimanded the central government for dragging its feet on highly crucial issues.