Are private security agencies actually following rules?

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: There is a question among certain people in the state as to whether private security agencies follow the guidelines under which they are supposed to operate. In Assam, such security agencies are issued licences by the Political (A) department under the guidelines issued by the central Ministry of Home Affairs. There are hundreds of youths employed in such firms, and they are offering their services as security guards without knowledge of the nitty-gritty involved.

According to available information, licences were issued to 651 private security firms in the state until April, 2025. Significantly, the licences of 356 security agencies were active as of April, 2025, whereas those of 295 firms were expired. The rules stipulate that the licences are issued for a period of 5 years and then have to be renewed after expiry of the time. The licence-issuing authority is the additional secretary of the Home & Political Department, who is regarded as the controlling authority.

When asked about the expired licences, a source in the Political (A) department said that many of the 295 firms whose licences have expired have applied for renewal in April, but due to various reasons, the renewals had not been done till then. Moreover, the licences of many firms have also been cancelled for a variety of reasons.

The state government had earlier issued the Assam Private Security Agencies Rules, 2023, regarding which a notification was published in the Assam Gazette on November 20, 2023. The rules were drawn up as per provisions of the relevant Act of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Private security agencies in the state have to abide by the provisions of the Assam Private Security Agencies Rules, 2023 (Rules 2023).

The Rules 2023 provide for training to be given to security guards after their employment in the agency concerned but before deploying them in the premises of their clients, like shopping malls, offices, industries, hotels, etc. However, it has been noticed that some security agencies do not provide the mandatory training. The security guards are just issued uniforms and then sent off to be engaged with clients. Even the cost of the uniforms provided to the guards is deducted from their salary in instalments.

This came to light when a team from The Sentinel questioned security guards doing duty in a shopping mall in Six Mile and another on RG Baruah Road (Zoo Road). The guards stated that they were only supplied with uniforms and sent off to the clients. The new recruits have no other way but to acquire the basic knowledge of their duties from the more experienced guards.

The security firms are also required to provide provident funds and facilities under the Employee’s State Insurance Scheme. However, allegations have surfaced that the security guards are not given these benefits. Some agencies even refrained from providing identity cards to the guards, a practice followed by unscrupulous employers. The rules governing the security agencies, however, make the issuing of identity cards mandatory.

There are also a few cases where the guards employed by security firms do not verify the age of the new recruits, and they sometimes turn out to be underage (below 18 years of age).

As for the monitoring of the agencies after they are issued licences, sources at the Political (A) department stated that verification is carried out in the event of specific complaints regarding the operation of these firms. The superintendents of police in every district have been instructed to monitor the functioning of security agencies under their jurisdiction.

Sources further said that a portal named psara.gov.in exists under the MHA to address grievances against security firms, if any.

The state is now going through a transition phase after the Advantage Assam 2.0 investment summit, with a new industrial climate emerging and new industries planned to be set up. This will lead to an increased demand for security guards, and this is the actual time to keep a hawk’s eye on the private security agencies. Both the civil and police administrations have to get their act together to streamline this sector, which is presently operating in a grey area.

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