New Delhi: The Home Ministry is keen that it should be the nodal agency to look after the crucial issue of security of airports in the country instead of the Civil Aviation Ministry.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday was given a presentation on the matter and he is believed to have asked officials to coordinate with the Civil Aviation Ministry to take the idea forward, official sources said.
It was felt that Home Ministry should be the nodal agency to take charge of the security of airports as the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was under its administrative control, the sources added.
The security of airports is at present being managed by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
The BCAS chief is an IPS officer and, hence, the home ministry, which deals with internal security of the country, would be ideal for coordinating the security of airports, it has been reasoned.
In 2012, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had pushed for a proposal to create an exclusive Aviation Security Force (ASF) for airports in the country, although the idea was objected to by CISF.
Sources said that after assessing the security situation, MHA was of the view that a change of guard at airports could pose a security hazard.
The paramilitary force, too, had written to MHA stating that there was no need to hand over airport security to a special force.
The Civil Aviation Ministry had made the proposal on the basis of recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.