What Emergency Powers Does State Have Under Civil Defence Protocols? Explained

Section 11 of the Civil Defence Act empowers the state governments to take measures, which are deemed necessary for the protection of people and property from damage in the case of hostile attack.

School students take part in a drill as part of a nationwide civil defence drill in Prayagraj.

Source : PTI

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday directed the chief secretaries and administrators of all states and Union Territories to invoke the emergency powers provided to them under Civil Defence Rules.

The government order comes as several districts across India, especially on the Western border with Pakistan are on high alert after Pakistan launched drone attacks and missiles in a retaliatory attempt following Operation Sindoor.

What Are Civil Defence Rules?

The state government has special powers under Section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, which allow the state to take swift action to protect people, safeguard property, and ensure that essential services like electricity, water, and transport continue to function in case of a war-like scenario.

Civil defence refers to measures taken to protect people, property and places in India from hostile attacks or disasters. 

Though these actions do not involve combat, they aim to reduce the impact of such threats and can be carried out before, during or after an attack or disaster.

However, the rules mandate that any order issued by the Central Government or its authorised authority under Section 16A will override any conflicting order from a State Government or other authority on the same matter.

What Emergency Powers States Have Under Civil Defence Rules?

Under the Civil Defence Rules, the states have to take action to protect people, safeguard property and ensure essential services. The local municipal bodies are required to cover the costs of these emergency measures from their own funds. 

Section 11 of the Civil Defence Act, 1968 empowers the state governments to take measures, which are deemed necessary for the protection of people and property from injury or damage, or for ensuring the maintenance of the vital services, in the case of a hostile attack.

The Civil Defence Rules, 1968 also mandates the central government or the state government to control display of lights, camouflage, evacuation, accommodation of evacuated persons, billeting (lodge soldiers in a particular area), maintenance of water-supply and protection of major ports among other tasks.

Earlier, the Centre had directed all the states and Union Territories to conduct mock drills on May 7 and strengthen civil defence mechanisms across 244 categorised Civil Defence Districts in case of hostile attack.

As a part of the centre's directive, states and Union Territories have been asked to operationalise air raid warning sirens, implement crash blackout measures and train civilians, including students, on safety protocols to follow during an aerial or ground assault.

Other measures include conducting rehearsals of evacuation plans and camouflaging of vital installations such as power plants and military-linked infrastructure.