The Maharashtra government has undertaken a significant overhaul of the key committees responsible for assessing and assigning security cover to important political figures and protected persons across the state. This move effectively supersedes previous government circulars issued in 2007, 2011, and 2014.
New Structure for High-Level Security Committee
According to a fresh Government Resolution (GR), the High-Level Security Committee has been reconstituted. The panel will now be chaired by the Commissioner and Additional Director General of Police of the State Intelligence Department. This marks a centralization of the decision-making process within the state's intelligence apparatus.
The committee's membership has been expanded to include senior officers from several critical units:
- Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS)
- Mumbai Police Crime Branch
- Special Branch
- VIP Security wing
- Home Department
This committee, originally formed in 1986 and later reconstituted, is tasked with the primary role of evaluating threat perceptions and recommending appropriate security categories for individuals deemed at risk.
Restructured Review Committee for Final Approval
Parallel to the changes in the High-Level Committee, the Review Committee has also been restructured to streamline the final approval process. This committee is now headed by the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra.
Its members include the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the Director General of Police, the Mumbai Police Commissioner, and the State Intelligence Commissioner. The Review Committee's mandate is to take the final decision on security classifications based on the recommendations from the High-Level Committee, without needing separate government approval for each case.
Administrative Updates Drive the Change
The decision to revamp both panels came after a proposal from the State Intelligence Department. The department cited the need to reflect administrative changes and the creation of new security-related posts that have occurred over the years. The government accepted this proposal, leading to the issuance of the new GR.
The updated framework aims to strengthen the entire process of evaluating threats and granting security protection to high-risk individuals in Maharashtra. By bringing together senior officials from intelligence, policing, and the home department, the state intends to make the system more responsive and robust in the face of evolving security challenges.
