SECURITY IN THE PARLIAMENT
DMK Rajya Sabha MP M Mohamed Abdulla has complained to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar about “unprecedented misbehaviour” by personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) who allegedly “questioned [him] on the purpose of [his] visit” to the Parliament complex on June 18.
THE DISCONTENT AMONG THE OPPOSITION:
Opposition MPs amplified Abdulla’s grievance on Wednesday. There has been disquiet among MPs ever since the Parliament complex was brought under a new security regime in May, and the Parliament Security Service (PSS) was replaced by CISF, a Central Armed Police Force under the Union Home Ministry.
THE EARLIER MECHANISM FOR SECURITY OF PARLIAMENT
Security responsibilities in the complex were with the PSS which replaced almost-100-year-old Watch and Ward Committee.
They had the training and experience required for the specialised job of securing a complex that is packed, when Parliament is in session, with almost 800 MPs, dignitaries, officials, and media personnel with sensitivity and competence.
WHY WAS THE SECURITY MECHANISM CHANGED?
The change was prompted by an extraordinary breach of security at Parliament House on December 13 last year, when two men jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery and set off smoke canisters.
WATCH & WARD COMMITTEE
Repercussion of bomb throwing incident in Lok Sabha Chamber, the then Central Legislative Assembly on 8 April 1929, the then president of Central Legislative Assembly, Shri Vithalbhai Patel (24 August 1925 – April 1930), set up a ‘WATCH AND WARD COMMITTEE’ on 3 September 1929.
The Watch & Ward has been renamed as Parliament Security Service (PSS) since 15 April 2009.
ABOUT PSS
PSS OF RAJYA SABHA:
- The Parliament Security Service of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat looks after the security set up in the Parliament House Complex.
- Director (Security) of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat exercises security operational control over Parliament Security Service in the Rajya Sabha Sector under the administrative control of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
PSS OF LOK SABHA:
- Joint Secretary (Security), Lok Sabha Secretariat is the overall in-charge of security operations of entire Parliament Security including Parliament Security Services of both the Secretariats
- It is also responsible for coordination between Delhi Police, Parliament Duty Group (PDG) and all the other allied security agencies operating within the Complex.
STRUCTURE FOR ENSURING SECURITY
- Access Control such as frisking & scanning the baggage is the responsibility of the Delhi Police.
- An Armed wing of Central Reserve Police Force- Parliamentary Duty Group is responsible for intervention in case of an armed intervention is required.
- The Parliament Security Service under the Lok Sabha Speaker is the overall incharge of security.
ABOUT CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE (CISF)
HISTORY:
The CISF came into existence in 1969, following a major fire incident in HEC, Ranchi. Over the last 50 years the force has seen many ups and downs, given the unique mandate with which the force came into existence i.e. to give protection and security to the employees and the property of the Public Sector Undertakings. In keeping with changing demands of the dynamic nature of security, the force has evolved, re-oriented and updated the nature of professional services rendered and metamorphosed from being an industrial security force into a multi-talented, multi-tasking and multi-faceted force, ready to face newer challenges in the future.
FUNCTIONS:
- CISF has 12 reserve battalions, 08 training institutes and 63 other formations.
- According to the mandate, CISF provides security to the premises staff along with the security of property and establishments.
- CISF is providing security to the strategic establishment, including the Department of Space, the Department of Atomic Energy, the Airports, the Delhi Metro, the ports, the historical monuments and the basic areas of Indian economy such as petroleum and natural gas, electricity, coal, steel and mining.
- CISF is providing protection to some private sector units and important government buildings in Delhi.
- Presently, CISF is also providing security to the protected persons classified as Z Plus, Z, X, Y.
- CISF is the only force with a customized and dedicated fire wing.
Consultancy services offered by CISF:
- Threat Perception & Risk analysis
- Access Control & Perimeter protection
- Assessment of Manpower requirements
- Security systems applications
- Security & Fire Audit
- Document security
- Procedures for material Security.
- Internal intelligence.
- Fire protection measures
- Crisis management schemes
- Executive Protection.
- Crowd control and management procedures
- Training in security & fire protection matters to the officers and men of the organization & Security Wing.
WHAT OPERATIONS HAS CISF TAKEN OVER? (AS OF NOW)
- Central Pass Issuing Cell (CPIC) for both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha to issue radio frequency tags for vehicles and verify the character and antecedents of applicants;
- Access regulation for MPs, VIPs, senior government functionaries;
- Positioning of staff at the various gates;
- Regulation and coordination of VIP movement inside the complex;
- Regulation of movement of stores in and out of the complex;
- Maintenance of order in the complex, access control in the lobbies and movement regulation and discipline in the public galleries and press gallery;
- Reception office, issue of temporary passes, and operation of gadgets in the complex;
- Coordination with other security agencies, security arrangements during meetings and conferences, rehearsal of drills, security arrangements during presidential addresses;
- Presidential and vice presidential elections; assistance and protection to the Chair.
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