Govt set to frame fresh rules to regulate pvt security agencies

New Delhi: With private security agencies becoming one of the major job generators in the country, the government is all set to frame new rules for the sector to pave the way for its development and contribute to employees' welfare.

In a notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has invited from individuals and organisations comments and suggestions on the draft Private Security Agencies Central (Amendment) Model Rules, 2019.

Due to the expansion of economic activities, the sector is growing at a very fast rate and as per an estimate, it employs 90 lakh people. The government envisages to improve the level of the enforcement of the act and the rules.

Therefore, it has been decided to consider modification in the model rules made under section 24 of the act to bring in substantial improvement in its enforcement. This will pave the way for the development of the sector and contribute to welfare of employees in this industry, the notification said.

The Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, and the states and union territories rules based on the Private Security Agencies Central Model Rules, 2006, are under implementation in the country for over a decade.

The ministry said since the private security agency licensing portal has been launched, there will be no need for manual police verification of details of directors, partners or proprietors of companies at the time of applying for license.

The verification of antecedents will be facilitated through electronic databases of crime and criminal like the Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS) and the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).

For payment of fees for license, this amendment allows electronic payment along with banker's cheque or demand draft as other payment modes.

The notification said the Centre has made the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) mandatory from December 27, 2018, and this recent advancement is to be made a part of the model rules.

Private security agencies will be allowed their own designations under the model rules.