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| Govt fails to frame rules for private security agencies in J&K | | House grants extension to Select Committee | | Abodh Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 25: Government has jumped another deadline for bringing Jammu and Kashmir Private Security Agencies Regulation Bill, which was aimed at regulating the private security agencies which have mushroomed in the State during last few years in view of the prevailing law and order situation.
Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saiffulah today brought a motion for extending time till the last day of the next session to the select committee constituted for framing the bill.
While private security agencies are governed by stringent regulations of law all across the country, those in Jammu and Kashmir have no check over them.
Parliament passed an act titled Private Security Agencies Regulation Act 2005 which has several provisions to regulate the functioning of private security agencies, but since the act has not been enacted by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, security agencies here are free to work to their own whims and fancies. Sources disclose that Jammu and Kashmir police has given several recommendations to the Government to regulate the functioning of these agencies, but like most other things, Government has chosen to sleep over them as well.
The act provides for appointment of a Controlling Authority which the State Government must designate by a notification. An officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary in the Home Department of the State or an equivalent officer may be designated as Commissioner.
As per the provisions of the act, it is imperative to obtain a license for setting up a private security agency. No person can start a private security agency unless he obtains a license from the designated authority.
The act also provides for a proper training for those who are inducted as security guards. Though it is mandatory to give preference to ex-servicemen in such agencies, those who have been removed from service following misconduct of any kind cannot be considered.
Interestingly, while many private security guards in several institutions are issued khakhi uniform which is similar to the one issued to the police and paramilitary forces, it is an offence and security agency issuing such uniforms can be penalized.
It is a pity, that all these rules have been easily flouted in our State in the absence of a designated controlling authority. |
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