5 On March 30, 1985, ( vide Government of India, Cabinet Secretariat Order No. A-11013/16/85 DO- I)(Annexure S- 3) President of India created 819 posts for the unit under Cabinet Secretariat. The SPU was then rechristened Special Protection Group ; the post of IGP was redesignated as Director. The SPG came into being on 8th April, 1985 when Dr.S.Subramaniam, then Joint Director (VIP Security) in the IB assumed Office.

5.1 The developments leading to the creation of the SPG have been summarised by CW/39 Shri Shyamal Datta, present Director, SPG, in his deposition before the Commission on 28th January, 1997. Relevant extracts of the deposition are reproduced below :-

"S.P.G. came into being in March, 1985. It was charged with providing proximate security to the Prime Minister and his immediate family members. Actually before 1981, the security of the Prime Minister at his residence and offices used to be looked after by Special Security District of Delhi Police under the charge of DCP. It was in October, 1981 that a Special Task Force was raised by I.B. to provide ring-round and escort to the Prime Minister during his movements both in Delhi and outside. Then after the assassination of Smt. Indira Gandhi in October, 1984, a review was undertaken by a Committee of Secretaries and it was decided to entrust security of the Prime Minister to a Special Group under unitary and direct control of designated officer and S.T.F. to provide immediate security cover both in Delhi and outside. These decisions were taken as short term measures. Then subsequently in February 18, 1985, MHA set up Birbal Nath committee to go into the issue in its entirety and submit its recommendation. In March, 1985, the Birbal Nath Committee submitted its recommendations of raising a Special Protection Unit of specially trained body of men with attractive terms and conditions of service under a designated officer holding the rank of I.G.(P). The Committee of Secretaries considered these recommendations on 21.3.1985 and endorsed that the S.P.U. under an officer of the rank of I.G. with an ex-official status in I.B. would have total responsibility for the functioning of the Unit. Among other decisions taken were that this Unit should consist of specially trained men under strict norms with a tenure of six years, substantial allowances etc. This Committee also decided that this Unit should be accorded legal status for proper functioning. Then under the Cabinet Sectt. order dated 30.3.1985, S.P.U. was set up. On 8.4.1985, S.P.G. came into being by the Cabinet Sectt. Order and then on 2.6.1988, S.P.G. Act came into being."

5.2 Creation of SPG required an elaborate exercise in order to clearly deleniate responsibility of various agencies concerned with the security of the Prime Minister. The provisions contained in the 'Blue Book' - which lays down security guidelines for the protection of the Prime Minister - had to be harmoniously blended with this new concept of proximate security.

5.3 The detailed guidelines which were formulated in this context are listed out in a note (Annexure to letter No. VI.23013/11/85-GPA.III dated 14th May, 1985)(Annexure S-s 4 &5, Ex. 376).

Briefly, the division of responsibility, as set out in this note envisaged that :-

The total responsibility for the efficient and effective functioning was vested with the Director SPG

Security arrangements for the protection of the Prime Minister were instructed to be made in accordance which the provisions of the "Blue Book".

Intelligence Bureau and the State/UT Police concerned were responsible for coordination, collection and dissemination of intelligence affecting VIP security.

State/UT Police concerned and the SPG were responsible for providing physical security arrangements for the Prime Minister; the Intelligence Bureau was to provide the required intelligence inputs to these operational agencies.

While in Delhi, the over-all responsibility for providing protection arrangements for the Prime Minister was that of the Delhi Administration / Police; SPG was made fully responsible for the security at the residence of the Prime Minister, offices of the Prime Minister and the Parliament House. In addition, the SPG was to provide proximate protection arrangements in the form of Personal Security Officers, escort for the road journeys and ring-round staff at places of functions in Delhi.

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, Delhi was to be responsible for local intelligence coverage , other security arrangements including law and order arrangements at the route and all place of visit, near the residence and offices of the Prime Minister.

Responsibility of the INTELLIGENCE BUREAU was for providing intelligence regarding threats and activities of various groups having a bearing on the security of the Prime Minister to the Delhi Police and the Special Protection Group.

SPECIAL PROTECTION GROUP was made exclusively responsible for making security arrangements at the residence of the Prime Minister, offices at Race Course Road, South Block and Parliament House. In addition, Special Protection Group to provide Personal Security Officers and escort personnel during road journeys; to provide ring- round personnel for proximate protection at functions;

As regards the SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PRIME MINISTER WHEN ON TOUR AND TRAVEL, it was stipulated that the over-all responsibility was that of the State Government/Union Territory Administration concerned in whose jurisdiction the Prime Minister may be present for the time being. However, the Special Protection Group was given the responsibility for providing proximate Protection to the Prime Minister by deploying PSOs, ring-round teams and escort personnel.