After reading this article you will learn about:- 1. Introduction to Ministry of Home Affairs 2. Organisation of the Ministry of Home Affairs 3. Functions.
Introduction to Ministry of Home Affairs:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has always been in the nature of mother ministry in the Government of India. It has attained unique prestige among the other ministries as it holds pivotal position in the administration of the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs deals mainly with matters belonging to maintenance of peace and public tranquility and the manning and administration of public services. It is also responsible for the administration of Union Territories. Article 355 of the Indian constitution enforces the Union to safeguard every state against External aggression and internal disturbance.
In pursuance of these obligations the Ministry of Home affairs assists with manpower and extend it financial support guidance and expertise to the state governments. It consists of a Secretariat headed by a Secretary who is assisted by additional secretaries, joint secretaries and under secretaries, seven attached offices and eleven subordinate offices.
It is in the charge of a Cabinet Minister who is assisted by a Minister of State and a Deputy Minister.
Organisation of the Ministry of Home Affairs:
According to one of the latest reports of Government of India the Ministry of Home Affairs comprises:
(i) The Department of Internal Security-dealing with police law and order and rehabilitation.
(ii) The Department of States-dealing with center-states relation interstate relations union territories and freedom fighters pension,
(iii) The Department of official language dealing with the execution of the provisions of the constitution concerning officials language and the provisions of the official language Act 1963,
(iv) The Department of Home dealing with the notification and assumption of office by the President and Vice-President, notification of appointment of the Prime Minister and other ministers,
(v) Department of Jammu and Kashmir,
(vi) Department of Border Management which deals with the management of borders including coastal borders.
The work of the Ministry is organised in the following Divisions:
(1) Administrative and O & M Division;
(2) Administrative Vigilance Division;
(3) All India Services Division;
(4) Central Secretariat Services Division;
(5) Establishment Division;
(6) Establishment Officer’s Division;
(7) Emergency Relief Division;
(8) Foreigners and Citizenship Division;
(9) Judicial Division;
(10) Police Division;
(11) Political Division;
(12) States Reorganization Division;
(13) States Reorganization (Services) Division;
(14) Union Territories Division;
(15) Union Territories (Legislative) Division;
(16) Official Language Division;
(17) Kashmir Division;
(18) Welfare Division;
(19) Finance and Accounts Division;
(20) Manpower Directorate;
(21) Public Division;
(22) Public Grievance Division;
(23) Training Division;
(24) Joint Consultation and Compulsory Arbitration Division;
(25) Secretariat Security Organisation; and
(26) Research and Policy Division.
The Seven Attached Offices are:
(1) Central Intelligence Bureau;
(2) Central Bureau of Investigation;
(3) National Academy of Administration;
(4) Secretariat Training School;
(5) Office of the Registrar-General;
(6) Central Reserve Police; and
(7) Border Security Force.
The Subordinate Offices are:
(1) National Police Academy;
(2) Directorate of Coordination (Police Wireless);
(3) National Fire Service College;
(4) National Civil Defence College;
(5) Indo-Tibetan Border Police;
(6) Regional Registration Office;
(7) Mobile Civil Emergency Force; and
(8) Regional Offices, Hindi Teaching Scheme.
There is one Central Vigilance Commission.
The Advisory Committees are:
(1) Central Establishment Board;
(2) Emergency Relief Organisation Central Advisory Committee;
(3) Advisory Committees for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands, and Chandigarh.
There is a consultative committee of the members of Parliament attached to the ministry. The committee meets under the chairmanship of the Home Minister to discuss matters pertaining to the Ministry.
The Secretariat staff consists of Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, one Director-General, Civil Defence, Joint Secretaries and Establishment Officer, Deputy Secretaries; Chief Welfare Officer; Director, Research and Policy; Chief Security Officer; Deputy Secretaries; Deputy Directors of Training; Deputy-Director-General, Civil Defence; Deputy Director-General, Home Guards; one Senior Staff Officer; Fire Adviser; Secretary, Delhi Flood Control Committee; numerous Under Secretaries; Security Officer; O.S.D. (Parliament); Secretary, Central Secretariat Sports Control Board; two Assistant Director-General, Civil Defence; one Assistant Director-General, Home Guards; and Senior Research Officer etc. etc.
The Ministry of Home Affairs enjoys key position and is considered ‘sanctum sanctorum’ of the Government of India. However, it no longer is the envy of the top civil services as they are more allured by the ministries dealing with economic affairs. The ministry has lost a few of its functions during the past years. For instance a separate ministry to deal with personnel, public grievances and pension was created.
Likewise in 1985 the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes was entrusted to Ministry of Welfare.
This was not said to be a rational step. According to an authority on the Discipline, “The Home Ministry’s association with the work relating to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes kept in sight both the stick and carrot. The Home Ministry’s dealing point at the state level is generally the Chief Minister himself and the latter’s association with matters relating to these deprived castes invests it with political importance.”
Functions of Home Ministry:
Its functions are multifarious some of which are as follows:
(1) To issue notification of election of the President and Vice President.
(2) To grant pardon, reprieve and suspension or commutation of death sentence.
(3) Establishment and formation of new States.
(4) To issue notification of appointment and resignation of the Prime Minister and other ministers and parliamentary secretaries in the Central Government.
(5) To frame model rules of business of State Governments.
(6) To issue notifications of appointment, resignation and removal of Governors.
(7) Administration of Union Territories.
(8) To man Border Security Force.
(9) To deal with matters relating to the emergency provisions of the Constitution
(10) To deal with matters relating to the rulers of former Indian States.
(11) To deal with matters pertaining to code of conduct of legislators.
(12) To control Intelligence Bureau.
(13) To deal with Preventive Detention cases.
(14) To deal with citizenship and immigration cases from foreign and commonwealth countries.
(15) To deal with code of conduct for ministers with legislators.
(16) To deal with census of population.
(17) To deal with matters of Indian Police Service.
(18) To deal with matters pertaining to Central Industrial Security Force; Central Reserve Police; Civil Defence.
(19) To deal with matters relating to national integration.
(20) To deal with affairs concerning the Stat
e of Nagaland.
(21) To deal with criminal law and procedure.
(22) To deal with emoluments, allowances, privileges etc. in respect of leave of absence of the Governors and the President, salaries and allowances of ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries of the Union.
(23) To deal with matters relating to Industrial security force of centre.
(24) The deal with the terrorists menace who constitute potential danger to our security.
Evidently the functions of the Home Ministry are enormous and clearly indicate its pivotal position in the country.