New Special Security Force Empowered To Arrest Without Warrant In UP

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has notified creation of a special force named UP Special Security Force which is empowered to search any premises or arrest any person without warrant or orders of a court.

The force was formed on the order of the Allahabad High Court, which had expressed displeasure last December over the lack of security at civil courts, said additional chief secretary Awanish Awasthi.

The force, which has been created under the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Vishesh Surakash Bal Adhiniyam (Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force Act), 2020, has been vested with powers akin to those of the CISF. It will cater to the security of metro railways, courts, airports, banks and other vital installations in the state.

“Under the Act, any member of the Force can arrest a person without any warrant or orders of a magistrate if there is an attack on the personnel of the Force, the threat of, the use of criminal force or obstruction in the discharge of duty,” Awasthi was quoted as saying by Livemint.

“If a crime is committed, the members of the Force can frisk any suspect without any search warrant without giving him any chance to escape or hide the evidence. On being convinced that the person has committed the crime, the person can be arrested,” Awasthi said adding that the Force is also empowered to search any suspect’s premises without any search warrant.

In the first phase, five battalions would be constituted which will be headed by an ADG-rank officer.