MHA Again Asks States to Suggest Officers for Lok Sabha Joint Secretary Security Post, 2nd Letter in One Month | Exclusive

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has again requested all states to recommend officers for the position of Joint Secretary (Security) in the Lok Sabha. The recent communication, sent last week by the MHA, urges all state governments (excluding Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and the Union Territories) to nominate within one week eligible individuals willing to assume the post in Delhi.

The post has been vacant for more than almost two-and-a-half months, a fact that shot to the spotlight on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on December 13 when two persons jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by some MPs.

This is the second time the MHA has asked states to recommend names of officers for the post, that too in given time of one week.

Sources indicate that the central government it yet to receive enough names to consider for the position, prompting the need to seek submissions once again from the states. Despite the central government’s urgency to fill the vacancy following the Parliament security breach last month, some states are not keen to put forward nominations.

“I am directed to refer to this Ministry’s letter on the subject mentioned above and to request that nominations of willing and eligible IPS officers for the post of Joint Secretary (Security) in Level 14 in the Pay Matrix in Lok Sabha Secretariat may please be provided to this Ministry, within a week from issuing of this letter, to enable us to forward the panel of suitable IPS officers to Lok Sabha Secretariat,” the MHA said in the fresh communication to all Chief secretaries last week.

At the epicentre of Parliament’s security is the Joint Secretary (Security), a figure entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing operations involving Parliament Security Services, Delhi Police, Parliament Duty Group, and various allied security agencies.

On December 13, two men – Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D – barged into the Lok Sabha and released yellow smoke from canisters, raising concerns over security. Two others – Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi – released coloured smoke from canisters while shouting “Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi” outside the Parliament premises.

The next day, the MHA wrote a letter to all states and emphasised the urgency of filling the post. The communication had stated: “I am directed to refer to the aforementioned subject and to convey that the Lok Sabha Secretariat is in the process of filling the position of Joint Secretary (Security) in Level 14 of the Pay Matrix in the Lok Sabha Secretariat, to be filled on a deputation basis among officers of the Indian Police Service empanelled to hold IG level posts at the Centre. State Governments are, therefore, requested to submit nominations of eligible and willing IPS officers to this Ministry by the latest deadline of 20.12.2023 via E-mail. While forwarding the nominations, the vigilance status should also be intimated.”

The government is in process of overhauling the security structure of the Parliament complex where now the CISF has been roped in for frisking and checking.