Section 2 of BSF Act : Section 2: Definitions

Explanation using Example

Imagine a scenario where a unit of the Border Security Force (BSF) is deployed along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan. An officer, part of this unit, is on patrol duty near the border fence. This officer, while on duty, encounters a group of individuals attempting to infiltrate into Indian territory. The officer takes action to apprehend the infiltrators, who are armed and show resistance. In this situation:

• The officer is considered to be on "active duty" as per clause (a), since he is engaged in operations against an enemy, which includes the armed infiltrators.
• The unit to which the officer is attached is a "battalion" as per clause (b), constituted by the Central Government.
• Any legal advice required by the BSF in this situation would likely involve a "Chief Law Officer" or "Law Officer" as per clause (c).
• If the infiltrators were to commit any crime during the encounter, such as firing at the officer, it would be termed a "civil offence" as per clause (d), triable by a criminal court.
• Should the infiltrators be captured and detained, they could be held in "Force custody" as per clause (m), according to the rules of the BSF.
• The term "enemy" as per clause (j), in this context, includes the armed infiltrators against whom the BSF officer is taking action.
• The officer engaged in the operation is a "member of the Force" as per clause (o).

This scenario exemplifies how the definitions provided in Section 2 of The Border Security Force Act, 1968, are applied to real-life situations involving the BSF personnel on duty.