The Punjab Government has decided to strengthen the security mechanism for all cash transportation activities in the state by regulating all private security agencies engaged in such activities under the umbrella of the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act (PSARA), 2005, a press release by the state government read.
The state cabinet, at a virtual meeting chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, gave the go-ahead to notify the Punjab Private Security Agencies (Private Security to Cash Transportation Activities) Rules, 2020, in pursuance of PSAR Act, 2005, which did not specifically cover the activities of the cash transportation agencies. The new rules, drafted in line with similar rules issued by the Government of India in 2018, are aimed at facilitating secure and smooth transportation of cash in the state by bringing all Cash Transportation Agencies operating in Punjab under the regulation of PSAR Act, 2005.
With the notification of the new rules, all Cash Transportation Agencies operating in Punjab would be governed by the PSAR Act, 2005. Resultantly, the cash transportation agencies would be now required to obtain license from the State Controlling Authority and the persons entrusted with the task for security of the cash in transit would be needed to be suitably recruited, verified and trained as per the rules/guidelines laid down under the PSAR Act 2005, and the Cash Transportation Rules, 2020, the press release further read.
At present, the regulating Act for the private security sector in India is the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005.The Punjab government had in December 2007 notified the Punjab Private Security Agencies (PPSA) Rules under the enabling provisions of Section 25 of the 2005 Act. Since both, the PSAR Act, 2005, and the PPSA Rules, 2007, did not include cash transportation activities in its ambit, the decision has now been taken by the state government to notify a new set of rules to eliminate the existing gap.
Notably, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has notified the Model Rules: “The Private Security Agencies (Private Security to Cash Transportation Activities) Rules, 2018, under Section 24 of the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, (PSARA) 2005. The same have been published in the official Gazette of India vide notification dated August 8, 2018, and the State Government/UTs administration have been requested to formulate their rules, under Section 25 of the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, in line with the Model Rules already notified by the Government of India.”
