Are 66 at sixes and sevens?
The Bombay High Court called it a ‘joke’ for its ‘unmanageable’ size, but Maharashtra’s Jumbo 66-member security council set up after 26/11 cintinues to plod along…….Swatee Kher
The Bombay High Court called it a ‘joke’ for its ‘unmanageable’ size, but Maharashtra’s Jumbo 66-member security council set up after 26/11 cintinues to plod along…….Swatee Kher
Together they can fill up two school classrooms with ease and their test is to come up with solutions to Maharashtras security gaps. Days after the new state Government was formed in the aftermath of the Mumbai Terror attacks, it announced the formation of a 66-member state security council consisting of ministers, state secretaries and prominent members from the Army, police, bureaucracy and media to make recommendations to improve the security in the state.
But the heterogeneous panel has earned plenty of flak since its inception. On March 13, a Division Bench of the Bombay High Court said the size of the panel was a joke and that it would be unmanageable. The Bench which was hearing PILs regarding the Governments actions after the terror attacks also asked what the great committee was doing and whether it had met even once after its formation. This notwithstanding, the Governor in his opening speech for the Assembly session chose to mention the committee as a step towards ensuring prevention of terror attacks.
After the public outcry and anger over the inadequate security set-up in the wake of the 26/11 terror attacks, the state viewed the panel as a way of involving members of the public into the decision-making process of the Government.
When the committee was formed there was a need to take cognizance of the anger towards the administration and Government among the people. Mumbai was angry but also willing to do something to improve the security situation. The rationale for selecting such a large team was to get a variety of thinkers together for recommendations from all spheres, said a senior Mantralaya official who is part of the council, on condition of anonymity.
Clearly, not everyone agrees. Quick to join in on the attack on the Government, Opposition leaders picked up where the High Courts criticism over the committee let off.
BJP MLA Devendra Phadnavis, for example, said, No committee formed by any Government in this country has been of this size. Any inquiry committee has between eight and 16 members. What will such a huge committee be able to achieve? The HC is right in questioning the committee and its formation. We havent heard anything about what has come out of the committee meetings.
The members continue to maintain that it is not an unmanageable committee and that things have moved forward since its formation in December. Weeks after the panel was cobbled together, the state Government formed five sub-committees focusing on different areas, such as involvement of youth, policing measures and public participation. Each sub-committee comprises five to six members who specialise in one particular area under consideration. According to sources, each committee has held a few meetings with ministers of the appropriate departments. The sub-committees have also met with the Chief Minister and Home Minister since they were formed in January, but they have not submitted any recommendations as yet.
In addition, all members have not gathered together since their first meeting in January.
Mumbai Mayor Shubha Raul admitted there is no point in holding meetings if no decision will be taken on the suggestions.
During the first meeting which lasted for three hours many suggestions were discussed. Then I was called for another meeting. I did not go. I asked them to tell me if any decision had been taken on the suggestions made in the first meeting. If there had not been any action, then my suggestions remained the same and I did not wish to attend, said Raul.
During the first meeting, Raul had suggested installation of scanners at all five entry points in the city to check each vehicle coming in. She recommended military training for young beggars in order to rehabilitate them.
Other members like Sheriff Indu Shahani were more optimistic about the council. Things have been streamlined now with the formation of sub-committees that have been meeting. The convenors of the sub-committees have met couple of times. Some of us are meeting again this month. Individual committee convenors are meeting the concerned ministers and secretaries and we will be giving our recommendations to the Government, said Shahani, convenor for the sub-committee on public awareness and education. The committee is large, but things have moved forward. This may not have been properly presented before the High Court, prompting it to make its remarks. We will try and ensure that a proper picture is presented before the court, said a senior Mantralaya official.