The J&K government has directed agencies offering private security to verify the character and antecedents of the employees before hiring them, warning stern action against the violators.
The move comes after the government observed that some Private Security Agencies (PSAs) have engaged or employed persons as security guards and supervisors without verification of character and antecedents.
The government notified the Jammu & Kashmir Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Rules, 2022, in May of this year, with an aim to regulate the functioning of PSAs operating within the J&K UT.
“Amongst other stipulations, Rule 7 of the Rules, provides that before any person is employed or engaged as a security guard or supervisor, the agency shall satisfy itself with the character and antecedents of such person in the manner as prescribed in the said Rule,” reads an official document of the J&K Home Department.
It adds that Rule 4(7) provides that the licensee shall immediately intimate the controlling authority about any criminal charges framed against the persons forming the agency or against a private security guard or supervisor engaged or employed by the agency in the course of performance of duties as PSA.
“A copy of such communication shall also be sent to the officer in-charge of the police station where the person charged against resides,” the document reads.
The directions have been issued at a time when many agencies in Kashmir are also offering domestic helps and maids. These rules according to officials are applicable to them as well. In the past, several instances of domestic helps fleeing from homes and indulging in criminal activities have come to the fore in the Valley.
Meanwhile, the official document reads that the Rule 4(12) of the Regulation Act provides that after commencement of its business, the security agencies shall provide monthly list of its management and those engaged by it to the controlling authority. “They should also share such a list to the officer in-charge of the police station where the registered office is situated,” the document reads.
Notably the, J&K Home Department has appointed the controlling authority for issuance of licenses under the PSA Regulation Act, 2005 and the rules made thereunder.
“However, it has come to the notice of the controlling authority that some private security agencies have engaged or employed persons as security guards and supervisors without verification of character and antecedents,” the document reads.
The government has observed that intimation regarding the framing of criminal charges against the persons forming the agency or against private security guards or supervisors was not brought to the notice of the controlling authority.
“The security agencies are not providing monthly lists as envisaged under Rules 4(12), which makes such agencies liable for action,” the document reads.
Further, the government has told all the government, semi-government, State/Central public sector undertakings and the private institutions, including banks, who are hiring the services of private security agencies not to hire the services of those PSA whose employees’ character and antecedents have not been verified.