Access to the Parliament complex – a particularly high-profile issue after last week’s security breach – will now be guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force, or CISF, the government said in a notification issued Wednesday.

The CISF will displace Delhi Police, which will continue to protect the exterior perimeter – as the agency in charge, and will take over all related responsibilities, including frisking entrants.

Security within the complex will continue to be the responsibility of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

The change will be enforced after a detailed security survey of Parliament, interior and exterior, that was ordered by the Home Ministry, and follows a security breach last week.

According to the CISF website, the force provides “integrated security cover to sensitive public sector undertakings”. At present it guards over 350 such locations, including airports and nuclear facilities.

On December 13 two men gained access to the Lok Sabha’s visitor gallery via passes issued by a BJP MP’s office, and popped yellow smoke canisters inside the chamber, triggering a massive security scare. These were slipped past Delhi Police’s physical checks in cavities cut into custom-made shoes.

Two others – a man and a woman – opened red and yellow smoke cans outside the complex.

All four have been arrested and are being interrogated by Delhi Police. Two others, including the alleged mastermind, are also in custody, but the entire incident has led to a massive political row, with the opposition demanding answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government.

Hours after the security scare, the government had announced tightening of protocols for entry into the Parliament complex, barring visitors and non-essential staff. Separate entrances were allotted for MPs and their staff members, while press (temporarily banned) were given a third gate.

Visitors, when allowed again, must enter from a fourth gate.

In addition, the visitors’ gallery will be encased in glass to stop people from jumping into the House chamber, and body scan machines – similar to those in airports – will also be installed.

With most Opposition members outside the House after a spree of suspensions, the Lok Sabha today passed a Bill to establish a new mechanism for appointment of Chief Election Commissioners and Election Commissioners.

Earlier, the Rajya Sabha had approved the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023. Therefore, the legislation has now cleared parliament. It will now go to the President for her assent.

During the discussion on the legislation in Lok Sabha today, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the 1991 Act on the service conditions of top poll officers was a half-baked attempt and the present Bill covers the areas left out by the previous legislation. The Bill was then passed by a voice vote.

The legislation underwent substantial changes following objections from various quarters. The Opposition has slammed the legislation, saying it would compromise the independence of the poll panel.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled that election commissioners must be appointed on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India. The landmark judgment was aimed at insulating the top election body from political interference. The court, however, held that the judgment will hold good till government comes up with a law.

In the new legislation, the government replaced the Chief Justice with a Union Minister. This, the Opposition has alleged, gives the government greater powers on the appointment of top poll officers and compromises the autonomy of the poll body.

During the discussion the Bill in Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala said the autonomy, fearlessness and fairness of India’s democracy and electoral machinery have been crushed by a bulldozer.

“Modi government has attacked the democracy of India. The autonomy, fearlessness and fairness of India’s democracy and electoral machinery have been crushed by a bulldozer,” he said.

Another point in the Bill that had drawn protests from former poll officers was a proposal to strip the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners of the status of Supreme Court judges, and bring their salary and rank on par with an officer of Cabinet Secretary-rank. The government later decided to undo this change.

3 more Opposition MPs suspended from Lok Sabha for unruly behaviour, total count now 146