New Delhi, March 21: Government today introduced a legislation to upgrade Assam Rifles, a paramilitary outfit, into an armed force.

Introducing the Assam Rifles Bill, 2006 in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said the Bill also provides for establishment of Assam Rifles Court and a redressal grievance mechanism.

The upgrading of Assam Rifles into an armed force has been necessitated as the number of battalions had grown from five in 1950 to 46 now, he said.

The force has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring security of borders, to carry out comprehensive insurgency operations and to assist civilian authorities for maintenance of law and order.

The gradual change in the complexion of the force has made the existing Assam Rifles Act, 1941 outdated and, hence, the need for a new legislation to bring uniformity of legal provisions as applicable to other armed forces, Jaiswal said.

According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, a separate enactment will provide for special needs to regulate the force.

The Bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in May 2003 but it lapsed following the dissolution of the 13th Lok Sabha.

The new legislation incorporates some of the recommendations made by a Parliamentary Standing Committee.

The other recommendations will be taken care of while framing rules and regulations under the proposed legislation.

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