Centre convenes meet of Chief Secys, DGPs on NCTC on March 9

[1]

Seeking to end the logjam on NCTC, the Home Ministry has convened a meeting of top police and civil officers of all states on March 9 to allay apprehensions of the counter-terror body usurping their powers.

Union Home Secretary R. K. Singh has invited the Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police and Home Commissioners/Secretaries of all states to discuss in detail the scope and functions of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), official sources said here on Wednesday.

In the wake of strong protests by non-Congress Chief Ministers, the Centre has put on hold the operationalisation of NCTC from Thursday and decided to discuss with the state governments before going ahead with the plan.

In his letter to 10 Chief Ministers, Home Minister P. Chidambaram had assured that the ‘next steps’ on NCTC will be taken only after the meeting of the top officials of the states.

The Home Ministry officials are expected to allay the apprehensions of the states, which said empowering NCTC with Section 43 (A) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act would infringe on the state's powers. Section 43(A) of UA(P)A gives an officer power to arrest and search.

Chidambaram said the powers conferred under Section 43(A) of the UA(P) Act must be read with the duty under Section 43 (B) to produce the person or article without unnecessary delay before the nearest police station (which will be under the state government), and the SHO of the police station will take further action in accordance with the provisions of the CrPC.