Thirty ITBP troopers seek redeployment in Afghanistan; High Court ‘amazed’, junks their plea

The Delhi high court has dismissed a petition filed by 30 Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel for redeployment in violence-ravaged Afghanistan, saying it "amazes us" that anyone would be keen to go back there despite the "dangerous situation".

"The petitioners, as personnel of armed forces like ITBP, can be posted anywhere based on the requirement...(But) they have no vested right to be deployed in Afghanistan," the bench of justices Rajiv Sahai Endlaw and Amit Bansal said. The petitioners had been deployed in Kandahar before being withdrawn.

The ITBP has a unit stationed in Afghanistan to guard India's embassy in Kabul and also the consulate general at Kandahar. Sources said the ITBP posse reports to the ministry of external affairs for duty abroad and the selected personnel receive generous extra allowances and other perks, making it a risky yet lucrative assignment.


After the latest disturbances in Afghanistan, India decided to temporarily close its consulate-general in Kandahar.

The HC pointed out that the "situation in Afghanistan is fluid, and urgent decisions have to be taken with regard to operations of Indian missions there along with ensuring the safety of the personnel".

Appearing for the ITBP director general, the central government's standing counsel Gaurang Kanth contended that deployment of personnel at a foreign mission, de-induction and re-induction were purely administrative matters.

The bench agreed to the argument, noting that "courts cannot dictate where and how personnel of the ITBP should be posted".