SAI for implementation of Pvt Security Agencies Regulation Act

Mumbai, Aug 4: The Security Association of India (SAI) has appealed the Maharashtra Government to immediately implement the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act, which was passed by Parliament on April 21 last year.

SAI president R P Chauhan said the gazette notification was issued in March this year. ''This is a Central Act which most of the States have adopted, whereas the Maharashtra Government keeps dragging its feet over it and continues with the Maharashtra Private Security Guards (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act of 1981, which is largely cumbersome, impractical and one which results in large scale corruption,'' he added.

The Private Security Agencies Regulation Act governs the security agencies (it will be the home department that would issue licenses), whereas the existing Maharashtra Private Security Guards (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1981 governs the security guards and personnel. Under section 23 of the Act, exemption is granted to a security guard and not to any agency or direct employer, Mr Chauhan pointed out.

He said there are two lakh private guards in Mumbai and Thane, out of which 40,000 are registered. There are around one lakh guards who are employed by unknown agencies. ''In wake of the terrorist threats, the need of the hour is to have security agencies registered at the earliest. Today, even a terrorist can start a security agency in Maharashtra,'' he said.

Giving statistics, he said out of the two lakh security guards in Mumbai and Thane, 40 per cent are locals, 40 per cent from UP and Bihar and remaining from other States. There are at least five lakh guards employed in different agencies in Maharashtra and there are nearly 40 lakh security guards in the country.

SAI Chairman O P Bakshi said it is far easier to govern and regulate a privately-owned security agency, rather than regulate each and every private security guard in the State. End-users employing such agencies also feel comfortable dealing with enterpreneur-driven agency, rather than to concern themselves with individual security guards. Accountability towards end-users and the Government also increases when a security agency has to comply with certain provisions.

He explained that in Maharashtra there is a clash of interest -- the State Government also runs security guard boards (on the lines of Mathadi boards) which act as service provider. ''This, in fact, is governed by the officers from the labour department, who specialise in labour issues and most do not have knowledge of security whatsoever,'' he added.

Mr Chauhan said unless immediate action is taken, SAI plans to move Bombay High Court within a fortnight. ''We have already written to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Labour Minister Ganesh Naik in this regard,'' he added.

A few advantages of the Central Act include the power to detain a suspect till the police comes, 100 days of training in Government recognised centres and uniform procedure for exemption of security agencies across the country, he pointed out.

UNI