Back

THE PRIVATE SECURITY AGENCIES (REGULATION) ACT, 2005

An Act to provide for the regulation of private security agencies and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Be it enacted by Parliament, in the Fifty-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT

(1) This Act may be called the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005.

(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

SECTION 02: DEFINITIONS

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) "armoured car service" means the service provided by deployment of armed guards along with armoured car and such other related services which may be notified by the Central Government or as the case may be, the State Government from time to time;

(b) "Controlling Authority" means the Controlling Authority appointed under sub-section (1) of section 3;

(d) "notification" means a notification published in the Official Gazette;

(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(f) "private security" means security provided by a person, other than a public servant, to protect or guard any person or property or both and includes provision of armoured car service;

(g) "private security agency" means a person or body of persons other than a government agency, department or organisation engaged in the business of providing private security services including training to private security guards or their supervisor or providing private security guards to any industrial or business undertaking or a company or any other person or property;

(h) "private security guard" means a person providing private security with or without arms to another person or property or both and includes a supervisor;

(i) "State Government", in relation to a Union territory, includes the Administrator of that Union territory appointed by the President under article 239 or the Constitution.

SECTION 03: APPOINTMENT OF CONTROLLING AUTHORITY

(1) The State Government shall by notification, designate an officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary in the Home Department of the State or an equivalent officer to be the Controlling Authority, for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The State Government may, for efficient discharge of functions by the Controlling Authority, provide it with such other officers and staff as that Government considers necessary.

The Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2005 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 10th May, 2005 and by the Lok Sabha on 12th May, 2005.

COMMENTS

The State Government shall have to designate an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary in the Home Department of the State or an equivalent officer to be the Controlling Authority.

SECTION 04: PERSONS OR PRIVATE SECURITY AGENCY NOT TO ENGAGE OR PROVIDE PRIVATE SECURITY GUARD WITHOUT LICENCE

No person shall carry on or commence the business of private security agency, unless he holds a licence issued under this Act:

Provided that the person carrying on the business of private security agency, immediately before the commencement of this Act, may continue to do so for a period of one year from the date of such commencement and if he has made an application for such licence within the said period of one year, till the disposal of such application:

Provided further that no private security agency shall provide private security abroad without obtaining permission of the Controlling Authority, which shall consult the Central Government before according such permission.

COMMENTS

No person can carry on or commence the business of private security agency without obtaining a licence for this purpose. The person already carrying on the business of private security agency shall have to obtain a licence within one year. No private security agency can provide security abroad without obtaining permission of the Controlling Authority.

SECTION 05: ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENCE

An application for issue of a licence under this. Act shall only be considered from a person after due verification of his antecedents.

SECTION 06: PERSONS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR LICENCE

(1) A person shall not be considered for issue of a licence under this Act, if he has been—

(a) convicted of an offence in connection with promotion, formation or management of a company (any fraud or misfeasance committed by him in relation to the company), including, an undischarged insolvent; or

(b) convicted by a competent court for an offence, the prescribed punishment for which is imprisonment of not less than two years; or

(c) keeping links with any organisation or association which is banned under any law on account of their activities which pose threat to national security or public order or there is information about such a person indulging in activities which are prejudicial to national security or public order; or

(d) dismissed or removed from Government service on grounds of misconduct or moral turpitude.

(2) A company, firm or an association of persons shall not be considered for issue of a licence under this Act, if, it is not registered in India, or having a proprietor or a majority shareholder, partner or director, who is not a citizen of India.

COMMENTS

No person can get a licence if he (i) has been convicted of an offence in connection with promotion, formation or management of a company, (ii) in undischarged insolvent; (iii) has been convicted by a competent court for an offence, the prescribed punishment for which is imprisonment of not less than two years; (iv) has links with any organisation or association which is banned under any law; (v) has been dismissed or removed from Government service on grounds of misconduct or moral turpitude.

SECTION 07: APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF LICENCE

(1) An application for grant of licence to a private security agency shall be made to the Controlling Authority in such form as may be prescribed.

(2) The applicant shall submit an affidavit incorporating the details in relation to the provisions contained in section 6, ensure the availability of the training for its private security guards and supervisors required under sub-section (2) of section 9, fulfilment of conditions under section 11 and of cases registered with police or pending in a court of law involving the applicant.

(3) Every application under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by a fee of—

(a) rupees five thousand if the private security agency is operating in one district of a State;

(b) rupees ten thousand if the agency is operating in more than one but up to five districts of a State; and

(4) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Controlling Authority may, after making such inquiries as it considers necessary and obtaining no objection certificate from the concerned police authority, by order in writing, either grant a licence or refuse to grant the same within a period of sixty days from the date of receipt of application with complete particulars and the prescribed fee:

Provided that no order of refusal shall be made unless—

(a) the applicant has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard; and

(b) the grounds on which licence is refused is mentioned in the order.

(5) A licence granted under this section—

(a) shall be valid for a period of five years unless the same is cancelled under sub-section (1) of section 13;

(b) may be renewed from time to time after the expiry of five years, for a further period of five years on payment of such fee as may be prescribed; and

COMMENTS

Application for grant of licence for running a private security agency is to be made to the Controlling Authority in the prescribed form with an affidavit incorporating the details in relation to the provisions of section 6, etc. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of (i) rupees five thousand if the private agency is operating in one district of a State; (ii) rupees ten thousand if the agency is operating in more than one but upto five districts of a State and (iii) rupees twenty-five thousand if it is operating in the whole State. The licence granted shall be valid for a period of five years.

SECTION 08: RENEWAL OF LICENCE

(1) An application for renewal of licence shall be made to the Controlling Authority, not less than forty-five days before the date of expiry of the period of validity thereof, in such form as may be prescribed and shall be accompanied by the requisite fee and other documents required under sections 6, 7 and 11 of this Act.

(2) The Controlling Authority shall pass an order on application for renewal of licence within thirty days from the date of receipt of application complete in all respects.

(3) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Controlling Authority may, after making such inquiries as he considers necessary and by order in writing, renew the licence or refuse to renew the same:

Provided that no order of refusal shall be made except after giving the applicant a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

SECTION 09: CONDITIONS FOR COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATION AND ENGAGEMENT OF SUPERVISORS

(1) Every private security agency shall, within six months of obtaining the licence, commence its activities.

(2) Every private security agency shall ensure imparting of such training and skills to its private security guards and supervisors as may be prescribed:

Provided that the person carrying on the business of private security agency, before the commencement of this Act, shall ensure the required training to its security guards and supervisors within a period of one year from the date of such commencement.

(3) Every private security agency shall, within sixty days from the date of issue of the licence, employ such number of supervisors, as may be prescribed.

(4) A private security agency shall not employ or engage a person as a supervisor unless he fulfils the conditions specified in sub-section (1) of section 10.

(5) While engaging a supervisor of private security guards, every private security agency shall give preference to a person who has experience of serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, any other Armed forces of the Union or State Police including armed constabularies and Home Guards for a period of not less than three years.

COMMENTS

Every private security agency shall have to commence its activities within six months of obtaining the licence and shall have to impart prescribed training and skills to its private security guards and supervisors. Any private security agency, which is already carrying on the business before the commencement of this Act, shall have to ensure the required training within a period of one year from the date of the commencement of the Act.

SECTION 10: ELIGIBILITY TO BE A PRIVATE SECURITY GUARD

(1) A private security agency shall not employ or engage any person as a private security guard unless he—

(a) is a citizen of India or a citizen of such other country as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify; (b) has completed eighteen years of age but has not attained the age of sixty-five years;

(d) has completed the prescribed security training successfully;

(e) fulfils such physical standards as may be prescribed; and

(f) satisfies such other conditions as may be prescribed.

(2) No person who has been convicted by a competent court or who has been dismissed or removed on grounds of misconduct or moral turpitude while serving in any of the armed forces of the Union, State Police Organisations, Central or State Governments or in any private security agency shall be employed or engaged as a private security guard or a supervisor.

(3) Every private security agency may, while employing a person as a private security guard, give preference to a person who has served as a member in one or more of the following, namely:—

(i) Army;

(ii) Navy;

(iii) Air Force;

(iv) any other armed forces of the Union;

(v) Police, including armed constabularies of States; and

(vi) Home Guards.

COMMENTS

No person can be employed as a private security guard unless he (i) is a citizen of India, (ii) has completed eighteen years of age but has not attained the age of sixty-five years, (iii) satisfies the agency about his character and antecedents, (iv) has completed the prescribed security training, (v) fulfils prescribed physical standards. No person who has been convicted by a competent court or who has been dismissed or removed on grounds of misconduct or moral turpitude while serving in any armed forces of the Union, State Police Organisations, Central or State Governments or in any private security agency can be employed or engaged as a private security guard or a supervisor.

SECTION 11: CONDITIONS OF LICENCE

(1) The State Government may frame rules to prescribe the conditions on which licence shall be granted under this Act and such conditions shall include requirements as to the training which the licensee is to undergo, details of the person or persons forming the agency, obligation as to the information to be provided from time to time to the Controlling Authority regarding any change in their address, change of management and also about any criminal charge made against them in the course of their performance of duties of the private security agency or as the case may be, a private security guard employed or engaged by them.

(2) The State Government may make provision in the rules to verify about imparting of required training by the private security agency under sub-section (2) of section 9 and to review continuation or otherwise of licence of such private security agency which may not have adhered to the condition of ensuring the required training.

SECTION 12: LICENCE TO BE EXHIBITED

Every private security agency shall exhibit its licence or copy thereof in a conspicuous place of its business.

SECTION 13: CANCELLATION AND SUSPENSION OF LICENCE

(1) The Controlling Authority may cancel any licence on any one or more of the following grounds, namely:—

(a) that the licence has been obtained on misrepresentation or suppression of material facts;

(b) that the licence holder has used false documents or photographs;

(c) that the licence holder has violated the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or any of the conditions of the licence;

(d) that the licence holder has misused information obtained by him during the discharge of his duties as the private security agency to any industrial or business undertaking or a company or any other person;

(e) that the licence holder by using any letter-head, advertisement or any other printed matter or in any other manner represented that the private security agency is an instrumentality of the Government or such agency is or has been using a name different from that for which licence has been granted;

(f) that the licence holder is or has been impersonating or permitting or aiding or abetting any body to impersonate as a public servant;

(g) that the private security agency had failed to commence its activities or to engage a supervisor within the specified time period;

(h) that the licence holder is or has wilfully failed or refused to render the services agreed to any person;

(i) that the licence holder has done any act which is in violation of a court order or an order of a lawful authority or is or has been advising, encouraging or assisting any person to violate any such order;

(j) that the licence holder has violated the provisions of the Acts given in the Schedule which may be modified by the Central Government, by notification, in the Official Gazette;

(k) that there have been repeated instances when the private security guard or guards provided by the private security agency—

(i) failed to provide private security or were guilty of gross negligence in not providing such security;

(ii) committed a breach of trust or misappropriated the property or a part thereof which they were supposed to protect;

+Clients Back

+Lawyers

+Law Students

+Law Schools

Central Act

THE PRIVATE SECURITY AGENCIES (REGULATION) ACT, 2005

Lawyers Network

Users

Cities Serving

Law Schools Network

Law Students Network