The appointment of a new DG before Hasan’s retirement is seen as crucial since the position of Joint Director General (JDG), the deputy chief, has also been vacant for over ten months
The appointment of a new Director General (DG) for the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) remains pending as the current head, Zulfiquar Hasan, approaches his retirement on October 31. BCAS, the agency responsible for overseeing aviation security in India, has been on high alert due to a surge in bomb threats to airlines over the past month, increasing the urgency for new leadership. Typically, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer with the rank of DG or Police Commissioner is appointed to lead the BCAS. Hasan, a 1988-batch IPS officer, has held the post since 2022.
The appointment of a new DG before Hasan’s retirement is seen as crucial since the position of Joint Director General (JDG), the deputy chief, has also been vacant for over ten months. The JDG role is held by a senior IPS officer stationed at BCAS headquarters in New Delhi, who supports the DG in executing security protocols. According to a mid-level BCAS official who requested anonymity, “The last joint director general, Jaideep Prasad, was repatriated to his parent cadre in Madhya Pradesh last year. He is an IPS officer from the 1995 batch. Since then, no officer has taken up the JDG post, leaving the agency without a key senior officer.” Presently, only junior batch officers are in other senior roles within BCAS.
In October alone, airports and airlines nationwide have received over 300 bomb threats, disrupting flight operations and costing airlines substantial losses. While all the threats proved to be hoaxes, each incident required mandatory security checks by both airlines and security agencies, following protocols set by BCAS. As a result, major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow have had to remain on high alert for extended periods. The BCAS chief has actively participated in high-level meetings with the Civil Aviation Minister, the Home Secretary, and heads of other agencies to address the recurring threats and review protocols.
One senior IPS officer, speaking anonymously, noted that if the government does not appoint a new DG by Wednesday, it may temporarily assign the role to a serving DG from a paramilitary force. The officer also mentioned that BCAS, along with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is evaluating updates to security protocols for bomb threat responses. “The order was expected last week. On Saturday, the government repatriated Vivek Joshi to the Haryana cadre, likely positioning him as the next Haryana Chief Secretary. With his transfer order issued, several senior IPS officers expected a similar directive for BCAS. It’s anticipated the new DG could be an officer from the 1991, 1992, or 1993 batch,” the officer said.
BCAS primarily sets aviation security standards for airport operators, airlines, and their associated security agencies, aligning them with international standards outlined in Annexure 17 of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Chicago Convention. While the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) enforces these guidelines, BCAS manages security planning and coordination. The recent surge in threats underscores the importance of BCAS’s role in safeguarding India’s aviation sector and the urgency of filling the leadership void.