Meeting was satisfactory, BSF jawan’s wife tells HC

The wife of BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav, who had uploaded videos about the poor quality of food served to soldiers, told the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that she had met her husband at his battalion in Jammu.

Sharmila Devi informed the court that she was satisfied about her husband’s well being.

The Bench headed by Justice G. S. Sistani was also informed that the BSF jawan had his own mobile phone to be able to contact his family.

‘No further order’

“We have been informed by the petitioner (Sharmila Devi) that she was able to meet her husband. She says her meeting was satisfactory. We have been told that Tej Bahadur has now purchased a new mobile phone with no restriction on talking to his family. No further order is required to be passed,” said the Bench, disposing of the petition.

Ms. Sharmila had met Tej Bahadur in Samba, Jammu, which is where the 80th battalion is stationed.

She stayed there for two nights after the high court intervened and told the Centre to ensure that “the wife meets her husband”.

Worried about well being

Worried that Tej Bahadur’s life may be under threat and that he may have been detained, Ms. Sharmila had moved a habeas corpus petition last week in the High Court.

She had also told the court that she had been unable to contact her husband and that the family had no clue about where he was.

She had also told the court that during his last call, Tej Bahadur had expressed fear about being taken to some an undisclosed location.

Centre speak

The Centre had refuted these allegations as frivolous and said that Tej Bahadur had not been arrested, but simply moved from his earlier 29th battalion to the 80th battalion within Jammu. The Centre also said that it had no objection to the couple meeting, and that arrangements could be made to allow her to stay overnight at Samba.

The BSF jawan had posted three videos online, complaining about poor food, watery dal with only salt and turmeric, being given to jawans posted in difficult circumstances.

He had also said that many times soldiers had to go to bed on an empty stomach.