Karnataka: HC relief for BSF ex-soldier’s daughter seeking reservation

October 29, 2020

BENGALURU: Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers guard the borders of the country and it’s apparently a defence organisation, the high court has observed while directing the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) to permit the 17-year-old daughter of a BSF soldier to avail the benefit of ‘special category reservation’ for getting an engineering seat.
Anjali R, a resident of Shivamogga, had prayed the court to permit her to rectify a mistake in describing the category of reservation in her CET application form. She had mentioned that she’s from the “ex-defence category” in the application and the authorities had rejected it.
Justice Krishna S Dixit, who perused the records, noted that her father SV Ravindra has defended the frontiers of the nation as a combat soldier for over 20 years, from February 1, 1997 to May 31, 2017.
The judge said though arguably a small mistake is committed by the petitioner, the court is of the opinion that the BSF is apparently a defence organisation too, having been statutorily constituted under the provisions of the Border Security Force Act, 1968.
Before rejecting applications, the officials having a word with the candidate and parents would infuse fairness in the action which is an essential element of justice, the judge added.