LUCKNOW, 25 November 2020, (TON):  Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force has been added to the security apparatus of the province but it was challenged in Allahabad High Court last month. The proposal of the new force is on the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had announced the formation of Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force (UPSSF) on 26 June 2020, which the state cabinet passed and was promulgated on 2 August 2020. It has been reported that five UPSSF Battalions are about to be deployed in sensitive places but their might be legal issues in deployment.

On 13 September 2020, the government issued a notification for the formation of the UPSSF. This force will be deployed at places like metro rail, airports, industrial institutions, courts, religious places, banks and other financial institutions. As per the plan 9,919 personnel will deployed with the force within three months in the first phase, following which 1,913 posts will be created later. Five battalions will initially cost Rs 1747.06 crore.

The force has been formed on the proposal by Allahabad High Court after incidents of violence were reported on the premises of courts in December 2019, will not require warrants for an arrest or to conduct searches as long as it is sure about the crime.

The force, which will have superintendence of Director General of Police (DGP), is being set up for the protection and security of persons and installations notified persons or establishments including Court premises, administrative offices, shrines, metro rail, airports, banks, and industrial undertakings and others as notified by the state government. Superintendent of Police of a district will oversee the functioning of the Force in his jurisdiction, in coordination with the Supervisory Officer. 

A striking feature of the act is that private establishment will be required to pay a prescribed fee for the service.  The Act provides that member of the Force to make an arrest, and search a person and his belongings without a Magistrate’s order or warrant if the offences are against employees of establishments including voluntarily causing hurt or attempting to cause hurt, threaten to assault or use criminal force, and reasonable suspicion of a person’s involvement in a cognizable offence related to establishments. After the arrest the arrested person is to be produced to a police officer, or to be taken to the nearest police station, accompanied by a report on the circumstances of arrest.