Tags: New Delhi , Home Ministry , NSG

New Delhi, Jan 24: To avoid delay in rushing forces for anti-terror operations, the Union Home Ministry has empowered the National Security Guards (NSG) chief to requisition aircraft from any operator registered in India.

The Home Ministry notification empowers the Director General of NSG or an Inspector General of NSG authorised by the head of the para-military force to requisition aircraft from any operator registered in the country in the interest of public safety, an official release today said.

Previously, the NSG could commandeer an aircraft for a counter hijack operation, but there was no provision for requisitioning an aircraft from a commercial operator to carry out troop movement for an anti-terrorist operation.

The notification has come in the wake of delay in procuring of an aircraft during the Mumbai terror attack. The Black Cat commandos of the NSG lost few hours until an IL-76 of the Indian Air Force was brought in from Chandigarh.

However, with this notification, NSG will now be able to get an aircraft at a short notice for rushing its commandos for anti-terrorist operation anywhere in the country, the release said.

The Home Ministry order came a day after the Civil Aviation Ministry issued a notification empowering authorised officers in the government to requisition an aircraft from an operator registered in the country.

A requisition from an officer of the Central Government not below the rank of Joint Secretary in Home or Civil Aviation Ministry will be required for seeking one or more aircraft for "public service", the Civil Aviation Ministry notification said.

As per the order issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry, the operator is required to provide the crew, maintenance personnel and material, necessary for operation of the aircraft.

It said that before an officer requisitioned a plane, he should satisfy himself that the aircraft was available at or near the place at which it was required.

As per the notification, the Central Government would pay for the expenses incurred on the aircraft operation to the operator in accordance with the Aircraft Act, 1934.

So far, there was no specific law to deal with such situations, which were generally met by the government-owned aviation firms only.

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