Plea to PM Narendra Modi to reinstate 400 'duped' jawans sacked over 'fake' skill certificates

The jawans had joined the country's largest border-guarding force through the Centre's Rozgar Mela during 2023-24

Paramilitary veterans have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking reinstatement of 400 Border Security Force (BSF) jawans recruited as cooks and water carriers and terminated after two years of service after the skill certificates submitted by them were found to be "forged".

The jawans had joined the country's largest border-guarding force through the Centre's Rozgar Mela during 2023-24.

They were appointed as constables in tradesman streams (cooks, water carriers and waiters. Upon joining, they were asked to submit National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) certificates, which were later found to be fake.

"We have written to PM Modi seeking his intervention in the matter. Our demand is that these 400 BSF jawans should be reinstated in the service as they are victims of cyber fraud," said Ranbir Singh, general secretary of the Alliance of All Ex-Paramilitary Forces Welfare Association (AAPWA).

"If our demands are not met, we would stage a peaceful dharna at Jantar Mantar on October 9," he said.

Sources in the BSF said the 400 personnel were terminated following "due process" after their skill certificates were found "improper". Candidates joining the BSF as tradesmen are required to produce an NSQF Level-1 qualification in food production, kitchen operations issued through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) or an institute recognised by it.

Singh said the affected personnel were recently terminated without being served any show-cause notices.

"We have learnt that the skill certificates submitted by the personnel were found to be fake by the BSF. These young jawans did not commit forgery; they are victims of a cyber fraud, as an individual gave them fake certificates when they joined the ranks. The man who committed the alleged fraud has been booked by the Jharkhand Police," Singh said.

He appealed to the government to take a "holistic and compassionate view" and reinstate these jawans as they have families to support and some have loans to repay.

Singh said there were two instances in the past where personnel identified with such fake certificates were allowed to continue in the force following intervention from senior officers. "These are trained soldiers of the country. They have proven their skills and should not be left on the road to fend for themselves due to a certificate aberration," he said.

The association has said that these jawans were innocent victims duped by cyber swindlers rather than being fraudsters themselves, noting some had even received commendations from senior officers for their service. Some were also felicitated for their work, including their services during Operation Sindoor.

The association's president, H.R. Singh, said the jawans had secured their appointments after undergoing the prescribed recruitment process and were later removed because of discrepancies involving NSQF Level-1 training certificates. He said they had obtained the certificates through online platforms and had no intention of submitting forged documents.

"The candidates obtained and submitted certificates online. The personnel became victims of an online fraud and did not intentionally commit any wrongdoing. The government should take a call on their reinstatement," he said.