Verify character, antecedents of employees: Govt to private security agencies

Srinagar, Aug 19: The J&K government has directed the agencies offering private security to verify the character and antecedents of the employees, warning stern action against the violators.
The move comes after the government has observed that some private security agencies have engaged or employed persons as security guards and supervisors without verification of character and antecedents.
Already, the government has notified the Jammu & Kashmir Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Rules, 2022, in May this year, with an aim to regulate the functioning of Private Security Agencies (PSA) 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,” an official document of the J&K Home Department reads.
It states that the 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 also 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 there under.
“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 engaged or employed by the Agencies in the course of performance of duties 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.
The government has enjoined upon all the private security agencies to get the verification of character and antecedents of security guards or supervisors done before employing them as stipulated in the Rules.
“Any criminal charges framed against any persons forming the agency or against private security guards or supervisors engaged or employed by the agency should be bring to the notice of the controlling authority,” the document reads.
The government has also directed the agencies to provide monthly list of management and those engaged by the security agencies to the officer in-charge of the concerned Police Station.
Further, the government has impressed upon 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 according to the manner as prescribed in the Jammu and Kashmir Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Rules, 2022.
“Any deviation on this count shall be viewed seriously and action, as warranted under law, shall be initiated against such agencies,” it reads.