The Supreme Court of India is set to hear the dispute over the expansion of the Border Security Force (BSF) jurisdiction in Panjab. On 11 Oct 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification expanding the jurisdiction of the BSF in Panjab, West Bengal, and Assam to 50 km from 15 km. Among the three states, only Panjab challenged the notification. At the time, INC was in power in Panjab. Panjab’s total area is 50,362 km². The Indo-Pakistan border in Panjab is 553 km. The INC argued that the 50 km change meant over 25,000 km², half of Panjab, had come under the BSF’s jurisdiction. This has compromised the state’s exclusive powers to legislate on matters involving the police and public order. INC also claimed that the notification was issued without consulting with any of the states concerned. Shortly after the notification was released, then Chief Minister of Panjab, Charanjit Singh Channi, called it ‘a direct attack on federalism.’ This year, owing to the Ram Temple consecration on 22 Jan, the central forces sounded a red alert Operation Sard Hawa (Cold Winds) for 15 days instead of the usual ten days around Republic Day. However, on Republic Day, as is the custom, at Jammu, the border forces from India and Pakistan exchanged sweets and pleasantries. Towards the eastern border, the India-Myanmar border is 1,643 kms. Given reports of rampant infiltration through that border, the Indian government wants to fence all of it. While Meitei militia groups favor the move, Kukis, Zou and Naga tribes are opposing it in Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
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