MHA wants control of aviation security

A turf war has broken out between the Union home and civil aviation ministries over control of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the organisation that deals with aviation security in the country. The BCAS currently functions under the civil aviation ministry. But recently, the home ministry felt that BCAS should be under its control as it (BCAS) is an organisation that deals with security. However, the civil aviation ministry has strongly opposed the move, saying the BCAS functions under the “Aircraft Act” and should stay under the civil aviation ministry. In fact, a committee of secretaries under the Cabinet Secretary could soon meet to discuss the proposal. “The civil aviation ministry has opposed the home ministry’s move on the grounds that since the BCAS functions under the ‘Aircraft Act’, it should remain with the civil aviation ministry. The ministry stand has been communicated to the Cabinet Secretariat,” top civil aviation ministry sources confirmed to this newspaper. BCAS was initially set up in 1978 as part of the DGCA but later became a separate department in 1987 after the Kanishka aircraft bombing in 1985. Its main responsibility is to “lay down standards and measures in respect of security of civil flights at international and domestic airports in India”. It is officially designated as the regulatory authority for civil aviation security in India. Its functions include laying down aviation security standards “for airport operators, airlines operators and their security agencies”.