Table of Contents
Introduction
- A special force will be set up in Uttar Pradesh, with powers similar to the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force),
- That can search and arrest without a warrant, the state government said on Sunday.
Why this decision?
- Additional chief secretary (Home)
- Awanish Kumar Awasthi said-
- The SSF has been established in view of an Allahabad high court order to the state government for security and protection of all court premises in the state.
- On December 18, 2019, the Allahabad court had pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government over a shootout at a Bijnor courtroom.
- On December 17, three assailants opened fire in the court of the Bijnor chief judicial magistrate,
- Killing a murder accused and injuring three others — two police personnel and a court employee.
- A two-judge High Court bench had said “most incompetent police personnel are being posted at the courts”,
- Adding that it would “seek the deployment of central forces if the state government is not up to the task”.
Role of UPSSF
- According to the administration,
- The UPSSF will be deployed at local courts, apart from metro railway stations, airports, industrial sites, banks, religious places, pilgrimage sites, and financial institutions.
- Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi said,
- “The new force would not only provide effective security to important places,
- It would also help the administration in utilising PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) and local police force for better maintenance of law and order and crime control.”
When it’ll be launched?
- The director general of police (DGP) had been directed-
- To submit a road map for constitution of SSF within 3 days,
- A proposal for various posts in the force within 7 days,
- Rules for implementation of the SSF Act within 15 days.
- The government plans to launch UPSSF within the next three months.
- Strength of the Force
Who will head the force?
- An IPS officer of additional director general (ADG) rank will head the force.
- But superintendence of the force will vest in DGP.
Is the service available to private parties?
- The “Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force” (UPSSF), according to the government, would be equipped with “high-level professional skills” related to security-related works and
- Generate revenue for the state by charging private individuals and private institutions seeking its services.
Is this 1st such force by a state govt?
- The security force will be formed on the lines of “state vital installation force” already in place in other states,
- Like Maharashtra and Odisha where they provide security to the government, semi-government as well as financial, religious, educational, cultural and health-related institutions.
Concern
- The force will have the power to search and make arrests without a warrant.
- “Any member of the force can, without the prior permission of any magistrate and without
- any warrant, arrest any person,“
- “Separate rules for this section would be framed”.
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