Calcutta HC directs West Bengal govt to hand over border land to BSF

In a significant ruling with national security implications, the Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal government to hand over land in nine border districts to the Border Security Force (BSF) by 31 March for the installation of barbed wire fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen observed that land already acquired and funded by the central government must be transferred to the BSF without delay, according to a media report.

The court made it clear that procedural justifications, including references to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision process, would not be accepted as grounds for further delay.

The directive came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by retired army officer Subrata Saha, who alleged that the state government’s failure to transfer border land had enabled illegal smuggling and cross-border infiltration, posing serious threats to national security.

During the hearing, the West Bengal government informed the court that land covering approximately 181 kilometres of the border would be handed over to the BSF by the stipulated March deadline.

However, the bench expressed concern over remaining stretches of land that are still awaiting approval from the state cabinet.

The court has sought affidavits from both the central and state governments on whether land along the international border can be acquired on an emergency basis, citing the sensitive security situation in the region.

The matter is scheduled to be heard next on 2 April.