New Delhi, December 01, 2007 (DefenceIndia News Service)

In a bid to grant armed force status to Sashastra Seema Bal and give it legal backing to strengthen policing of borders with Nepal and Bhutan, a bill has been passed by Parliament on Saturday.

Recently, the Sashastra Seema Bal Bill, 2007, adopted by Rajya Sabha three days ago, was passed by the Lok Sabha with Home Minister Shivraj Patil saying the legislation would expand the size and responsibility of force's armed combatised wing.

However the Home Minister ruled out the possibility of a single command for SSB, BSF and ITBP saying they face borders of different countries and are placed in different situations.

Earlier known as Special Services Bureau, the SSB was set up in 1963 after the Sino-Indian war and now polices almost 1800-km border with Nepal and 700-km border with Bhutan with 41 battalions.

Insisting that policing of this porous border would be strengthened with Centre's proposal to raise 21 more battalions, the Home Minster said SSB's role in promoting a sense of security among the population and performing other duties had necessitated the enactment of a comprehensive legislation.

Considering the new nature of job and purpose of the SSB, he said it was felt that SSB should be regulated by a separate self-contained statute providing for its special needs of efficiency and discipline.

BJP's Tapir Gao said the SSB had been active in Arunachal Pradesh since its formation and had played a major role in maintaining national interest in border areas.

He suggested the force be given an English name too as it could now participate in UN missions abroad.