Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Mar 16: The State Government has been incurring expenditure up to whopping Rs 100 crores per year on account of VIP security in the State.
This confession has been made by the State Government in an affidavit filed by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) before the Apex Court in a case titled Abay Singh Vs State of Uttar Pradesh and Others.
The affidavit was filed in response to Supreme Court order, directing all States to spell out how much each Government had spent on VIP security and how many personnel were deployed for it.
Sources in Home Department told EXCELSIOR that the affidavit says, “nearly 4000 PSOs are deployed with protected persons and other individuals, who are found vulnerable to threat in view of the positions held and nature of duties being performed by such individuals”.
While elaborating on the cost incurred by the State for providing VIP security, the affidavit says “the provision of security for protected persons is met from within the sanctioned strength of the manpower available with the Police Department. However, an amount of Rs 897.70 lacs per month is incurred as expenditure on account of salary of PSOs deployed with protected persons”.
The document states that since Jammu and Kashmir is a militancy infested State, there is constant threat to the life of protected persons and public servants at the hands of terrorists and other anti-national elements.
Replying to the specific query of the Supreme Court about the Rules or Guidelines in Jammu and Kashmir State, which prescribe the policy of the State for permitting security personnel to individuals, the State Government has replied that the security cover to an individual was provided as per the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Sources asserted that as per the procedure in vogue, the Security cover is provided to an individual on the basis of threat perception received from field agencies and the individuals facing specific threat are categorized by the Security Review Coordination Committee (SRCC).
The State Government vide its order No. Home-663(ISA) of 2012 dated 31.7.2012 has reconstituted the SRCC for decisions for the categorization of protected persons. “The Committee comprised Principal Secretary Home, ADG Security, IG (CID), Zonal IG, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and officials from other agencies which form part of the security apparatus”, sources informed.
The affidavit says, “the security wing of the State police is primarily tasked with providing security to the protected persons and other individuals facing threat perception from anti-national elements, which draws additional manpower required for the purpose from Armed wing”.
“The Special Security Group (SSG) is tasked with the assignment of providing security to the Chief Minister, Ex-Chief Minister of the State and their immediate relations as per the mandate of the Act”, says the document adding, “the maintenance of Law and order is the primary concerns of the Armed Police, while Crime prevention and investigation is looked after by the Executive wing of the State Police”.
Asked on the Rules, Order or Guidelines in the State, which prescribe the policy for permitting Red Lights on vehicles to various persons, the State submitted, “the use of red lights on top of the vehicles of dignitaries is governed by Rule 108 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 read with SRO 33 of 2007, SRO 412 and SRO 31. As per the SROs, various dignitaries have been authorized by the State Government to use red lights on top of their vehicles”.
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