Army jawan moves HC alleging poor quality food being served to soldiers

The soldier also claimed that he was being harassed for making the complaint about poor food quality.

The Delhi high court has decided to hear on July 10 a petition by an Army jawan claiming that poor quality food was being served to them.

Another BSF jawan had earlier made similar allegations on social media, which the paramilitary force said were false. (HT File Photo)

The matter was mentioned before a bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and justice Anu Malhotra which listed it before justice Vinod Goel.

The jawan, posted in Assam, alleged that authorities started harassing him after he complained that the troopers were being served with poor quality food.

His counsel refused to share any details of the matter claiming that the jawan feared for his life.

Justice Goel fixed the matter for hearing on July 10.

The matter assumes significance as in January, a BSF jawan had also made similar allegations on social media which was termed as false by the paramilitary force.

BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav had posted a video on Facebook showing a meal box comprising a watery soup-like dal which he said had only turmeric and salt and a burnt chapati. He had said this was what jawans were served at meal time on duty and claimed that they often went to bed on empty stomach.

The petition was filed by a former central government employee in the wake of the video posted on Facebook by Yadav alleging corruption among officers and poor working conditions.

The BSF, however, has brushed aside the petitioner’s claim of corruption saying there are committees to deal with purchase of food items and even inspect it after it is cooked.