Not serving poor quality food to jawans: BSF to Delhi High Court

NEW DELHI: The BSF today told the Delhi High Court that the allegation of one of its jawans on social media that poor quality food was being served to its troopers posted along the LoC was "false" as no complaint was ever made in this regard.

"Concerned jawan ( Tej Bahadur Yadav) or any other jawan of the said battalion never approached the grievance redressal system for the redressal of their grievance regarding poor quality of food," an affidavit filed by the Deputy Inspector General (Personnel), Border Security Force (BSF), has said.

It said that soon after the video went viral on social media, senior officials visited the concerned battalion, but no complaint regarding poor food was brought to their notice.

Brushing aside allegations levelled by Yadav in his video, the BSF in its affidavit, filed through advocate Gaurang Kanth, said a "very transparent system" was in place to ensure quality diet for the troopers since their health and safety was a "prime responsibility".

It also said "a detailed Staff Court of Inquiry (SCOI) has also been ordered to enquire into the allegations made by the jawan through video and same has been concluded and further action will be taken in accordance with the law".

The BSF response came in the backdrop of a public interest litigation seeking direction to MHA to submit a status report with respect to quality of food supplied to all paramilitary forces in India.

The petition was filed by Puran Chand Arya, a former central government employee, in the wake of the video posted on Facebook by Yadav alleging corruption among officers and poor working conditions.

The BSF, however, has brushed aside the petitioner's claim of corruption saying there are committees to deal with purchase of food items and even inspect it after it is cooked.

"These committees are changed on a monthly basis to avoid any malpractice in purchasing procedure," the reply stated.