Striking or threatening superior officers
Section 20 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968 deals with striking or threatening superior officers. Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,— (a) uses criminal force to or assaults his superior officer; The Act came into force on 01 Mar 1969.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) uses criminal force to or assaults his superior officer; or
(b) uses threatening language to such officer; or
(c) uses insubordinate language to such officer;
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court,—
(A) if such officer is at the time in the execution of his office or, if the offence is committed on active duty, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and
(B) in other cases, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned:
Provided that in the case of any offence specified in clause (c), the imprisonment shall not exceed five years
Section 20, The Border Security Force Act, 1968 (Act 47 of 1968).
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Constable Bhisham Singh v. Border Security Force
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
DATE-VERIFIED Judgement 30.05.2002: Before writ challenge, the member must exhaust the statutory representation under s.117 against SF Court findings/sentence. Prior WP withdrawn for non-exhaustion; after DG rejected the s.117 representation, the fresh writ was maintainable but failed on merits.
On this section: s.20(a) assault on a superior is triable by Summary SF Court; Rule 47 summary-dealing bar ≠ Summary SF Court bar.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 20
What have the courts held on Section 20 of the Border Security Force Act?
Constable Bhisham Singh v. Border Security Force (30 May 2002) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.20(a) assault on a superior is triable by Summary SF Court; Rule 47 summary-dealing bar ≠ Summary SF Court bar.
How do I find court cases under Section 20 of the Border Security Force Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Border Security Force Act 20, section 20 Border Security Force Act, section 20 of the Border Security Force Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Constable Bhisham Singh v. Border Security Force (30 May 2002).
What should I read with Section 20 of the Border Security Force Act, and has it changed?
One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently Border Security Force Rule, 1969 (1969).
When did Section 20 of the Border Security Force Act come into force?
Section 20 of the Border Security Force Act, cited as Border Security Force Act 20, came into force on 01 Mar 1969, having been enacted on 02 Sep 1968. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions660 words
- 141. Power to make rules501 words
- 96. Presumption as to certain documents470 words
- 139. Powers and duties conferrable and imposable on members of the Force410 words
- 14. Offences in relation to the enemy and punishable with death321 words
- 105. Order for disposal of property regarding which offence is committed297 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 19 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.