Govt to shut down illegal private security agencies

JAMMU: Citing serious threat to the security of the state, Jammu and Kashmir government is shutting down the illegal private security agencies.

Official sources said that the scores of private security agencies, which are operating in the state without any permission or license from authorities, would be closed immediately.

“The government will take stern action against illegal private security agencies without serving any notice. The process in this regard has been set in motion,” an official said.

“The government has asked all the departments, Central Public Sector Undertakings, private institution not to hire the services of such agencies until the process of closing such agencies is going on,” he said.
Aiming to regulate all the private security agencies in state, Jammu and Kashmir Legislature had passed the Jammu and Kashmir Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2015. The Home Department has appointed the Controlling Authority for issuance of licenses under the said act.

“In terms of section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2015, no person shall carry on or commence the business of private security agency in the state unless he holds a license issued under the said act by the controlling authority”, an official said.

An official said that applicant has to apply to the controlling authority in the format prescribed in Form-V with crossed bank draft or cheque payable to the Controlling Authority worth Rs. 5000 only, if the Agency is operating in one district; Rs 10,000 only, if the Agency is operating in more than one but upto five districts; and Rs. 20,000 only, if the Agency is operating in the whole State.