"India also needs an effective counter terrorism mechanism," Chavan told the meeting of Chief Ministers on NCTC here and pointed out that many developed and democratic countries like the US, the UK, Japan and Germany have also set up institutions to counter terrorism.
On the Standard Operating Procedures, he said the provisions of Standing Council and Focus Group provide adequate safeguards to allay the fears expressed by a few states.
In the normal course, arrest, search or seizure shall be carried out by ATS or other state police units, Chavan said adding that in exceptional circumstances needing immediate action, the powers of the operations division of the NCTC may be invoked.
Chavan said the concept of NCTC originated in the recommendations of the Group of Ministers on December 6, 2001, for establishment of Multi Agency Centre, Joint Task Force on Intelligence and Inter State Intelligence support team under the Intelligence Bureau.
"The Parliament has carried out amendments in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2008 with a view to enable the government of India to establish the Designated Authority and empower it," he said.
Such Legislative measures have been upheld by the Supreme Court, Chavan said adding that the NCTC has now been proposed in the wake of the recommendations of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission.