Assembly passes Odisha Industrial Security Force Bill, 2012

The Bill, introduced by housing and urban development minister Raghunath Mohanty on behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was passed without any debate through voice vote amidst uproar by opposition Congress members.

"Odisha Industrial Security Force will provide adequate and foolproof security to industrial units," Mohanty said in his statement of objects and reasons for the Bill.

Stating that the existing state police force dealing with multiple duties and responsibilities were inadequate to meet the need of industrial undertakings, Mohanty said the cost of the force will be borne by them when they requisition the force.

According to the provision of the Bill, a member of the proposed force could arrest a person without any order from a magistrate and without warrant. The force could also exercise the power to search a person or house without warrant.

"This is a historic Bill. Besides maintaining proper law and order in industrial estates, this will provide jobs to about 20,000 youths," Mohanty told reporters after the Bill got the nod of the House.

The Opposition Congress, however, strongly objected the manner in which the Bill was passed.

"There was no urgency in passing the Bill in a hurried manner. Though we had given notice for certain amendments, our views have not been considered," Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh of Congress said.