The Special Protection Group Act, 1988

(1) This Act may be called the Special Protection GroupAct, 1988. (2) It shall come into force on such date1as the Central Government may, by notification in theOfficial Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "active duty" in relation to a member of the Group means any duty as such member during theperiod when he is posted to physically protect the Prime Minister of India and the members of 1[hisimmediate family or a former Prime Minister and the members of his immediate family], wherever heor they may be; (b) "Director" means the Director of the Group appointed under sub-section (1) of section 5; (c) "Group" means the Special Protection Group constituted under section 4; (d) "member of the Group" means a person who has been appointed to the Group by theprescribed authority whether before or after the commencement of this Act; (e) "members of immediate family" means wife, husband, children and parents; (f) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (g) "proximate security" means protection provided from close quarters, during journey by road,rail, aircraft, watercraft or on foot or any other means of transport and shall include the places offunctions, engagements, residence or halt and shall comprise ring round teams, isolation cordons, thesterile zone around, and the rostrum and access control to the person or members of his immediatefamily; (h) all words and expressions used and not defined in this Act but defined in the Indian PenalCode (45 of 1860) shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in that Code.

Every member of the Group shall be subject to this Act, whereverhe may be.

1[(1) There shall be an armed force of the Union called the SpecialProtection Group for providing proximate security to,-- (a) the Prime Minister and members of his immediate family residing with him at his officialresidence; and (b) any former Prime Minister and such members of his immediate family as are residing withhim at the residence allotted to him, for a period of five years from the date he ceases to hold theoffice of Prime Minister.] (1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1),-- (a) any former Prime Minister or any member of the immediate family of the Prime Minister orof a former Prime Minister may decline proximate security; 2[(b) where the proximate security is withdrawn from a former Prime Minister, such proximatesecurity shall also stand withdrawn from members of immediate family of such former PrimeMinister:] Provided that where the level of threat faced by any member of the immediate family of a formerPrime Minister warrants proximate security or any other security, such security shall be provided to thatmember.] (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Group shall be constituted in such manner as may beprescribed and the terms and conditions of service of the members of the Group shall be such as may beprescribed. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, any person or any member of any other armedforce of the Union may be appointed to the Group by the Central Government by a general or specialorder and for such period as may be specified in such order, and the person so appointed shall, during theperiod of his appointment, be deemed to be a member of the Group, and the provisions of this Act shall,so far as may be, apply to such person or member.

(1) The general superintendence, direction and control of the Group shallvest in, and be exercised by, the Central Government and subject thereto and to the provisions of this Actand the rules, the command and supervision of the Group shall vest in an officer to be appointed by theCentral Government as the Director of the Group. (2) The Director shall, in the discharge of his duties under this Act, be assisted by such number of1[Inspectors General, Deputy Inspectors General, Assistant Inspectors General] and other officers as maybe appointed by the Central Government.