MUMBAI: There cannot be a compromise on testing bulletproof jackets, the state told Bombay high court while justifying rejection of jackets meant for use during operations of anti-terror and anti-naxal units, such as Quick Response Teams, Force One and Gadchiroli police.
The director general of police’s office reply came on a petition by UP defence company MKU Pvt Ltd, which bagged a Rs 16-crore contract in March 2017 for 5,000 jackets with 10% side plates. The tender was modified in August 2017 for 4,614 jackets. MKU supplied 4,614 jackets in lots of 500 on nine days. From each lot jackets were randomly selected for ballistic evaluation at Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL)), Chandigarh, and three lots failed.
“During ballistic evaluation of 4,614 BP jackets, 3,158 passed, while 1,456 failed,’’ the reply stated.
MKU replaced the failed lots and supplied 1,456 jackets in a single lot in September 2018. The new jackets were divided into three sub-lots. From these sample jackets were sent for ballistic testing. One of three sub-lots failed. MKU was informed in May 2019 that a decision was taken to reject all three but it moved the high court to direct the state to accept the two sub-lots and retest the third sub-lot meant for Force One, saying CFSL did not follow qualitative requirements and trial directives and fired eight instead of six shots.
The reply stated that eight shots were permitted for testing on hard armour panel. “Initially, six shots were fired for testing on HAP. As the velocity of two shots was not detected, those shots were declared unfair. Hence two more shots were fired,’’ it added. Declining to retest the rejected lot of replaced jackets, the reply said ballistic tests were conducted as per QR and TD by ballistic experts in the presence of MKU’s representatives
“Also, it is not rational to examine the same material again and again which has failed,’’ it added.
DGP’s office also said 1,456 jackets supplied in a single lot were rejected as the hard plates were of same size, material and make. “The material of BP jacket is a life-guard and life-saver for officers, and there cannot be a compromise on quality of bulletproof jackets... Thus, lives of policemen can’t be put at stake by using material which has failed ballistic evaluation tests twice,’’ it explained.
The reply said MKU was informed in May 2019 about non-acceptance of 1,456 jackets but it had not taken them back. It urged HC to direct MKU to take them back as “it has occupied space”.
The judges on November 5 took note of the state’s delay in replying to the petition. Assistant government pleader Jyoti Chavan undertook to submit it before the next hearing.