BSF Jawan Loses Week’s Pay For His Failure To Use ‘Shri’ Before PM Narendra Modi’s Name

Disciplinary action was initiated against Constable Sanjeev Kumar after he forgot to affix 'honourable' or 'Shri' while referring to the Prime Minister

By: Rakesh Jha |
March 7, 2018 4:14 pm

In a rather bizarre turn of events, a Border Security Force Jawan was handed down a week’s pay cut as a punishment for his failure to use ‘Shri’ or ‘honourable’ as prefix while referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Disciplinary action was initiated against Constable Sanjeev Kumar after he forgot to affix ‘honourable’ or ‘Shri’ while referring to the Prime Minister during zero parade, a routine exercise to account for jawans’ daily activities. The incident happened on February 21 when Kumar referred to the zero parade as “Modi programme” which was taken as a mark of disrespect towards the PM.

Kumar, who is posted at BSF’s 15th Battalion headquarters in Mahatpur, Nadia (West Bengal), was found guilty under Section 40 of the BSF Act, 1968 (act prejudicial to good order and discipline of the force).

“On 21.2.2018, during zero parade, while giving report, you used words ‘Modi Programme’ which shows disrespect towards Hon’ble Prime Minister.” The BSF order said as quoted by The Hindu. The order further added that Kumar will also face a pay cut of seven days as penalty for his indiscipline.

Senior officers at BSF and other forces have termed the punishment a “bit harsh” and “uncalled for”, according to Times of India.

Punishing a low ranking constable with a salary cut for his failure to address PM as Shri and taking it as a mark of disrespect towards the Prime Minister seems a bit far-fetched.

Last Year,BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav was dismissed from service after his video in which he alleged that poor quality of food was being served to the troops, went viral on social media. He had also alleged that senior officers sell the supplies bought for them by the government.