Maharashtra govt to set up expert panel to frame SOPs for AI use, says minister
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday said it will constitute an expert committee within 30 days to prepare standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the use of artificial intelligence (AI), despite Opposition legislators objecting to the facial recognition system installed at Vidhan Bhavan without their consent.
Responding to a call for caution on misuse of AI-enabled smart glasses and surveillance devices, Home Minister Yogesh Kadam said technology is increasingly being used to simplify governance and other processes, but it can also be misused.
He said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the government to prepare SOPs on the use of artificial intelligence through an expert committee of experts in the field.
Read More: Maharashtra TET 2026 document leak: Thane Police arrests accused’s wife from Patna
“The committee will be constituted within 30 days and is expected to submit its report within four to six months. The report will be sent to the Center so that its recommendations can be taken into account while formulating the national AI policy and legal framework,” Kadam said.
He stated that existing laws already stipulate that precautions will be taken if artificial intelligence-enabled devices such as smart glasses are used to secretly record individuals and violate their privacy. He added that security personnel at sensitive government institutions will also be trained to detect and deal with such AI-enabled devices.
During the debate, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aditya Thackeray questioned how the facial recognition system in the Vidhan Bhavan complex was created without the permission of MLAs, ministers and former legislators.
Thackeray sought detailed information on where facial recognition data is stored, which company uses it, what privacy safeguards and firewalls are in place, and demanded a detailed explanation from the government on the issue.
Congress’s Aslam Shaikh said lawmakers had never undergone iris scanning or biometric registration in the legislature and questioned how the facial recognition database was created.
If facial recognition can be created from photos, it would raise broader privacy concerns for ordinary citizens as well, he said.
Ruling party MPs Sidharth Shirole (BJP), Chetan Tupe (NCP) and Namita Mundala (BJP) demanded that the government draw up a framework for the use of artificial intelligence.
Read More: Maharashtra makes Marathi compulsory in all schools, violators go unrecognized
The minister said the matter did not fall within the jurisdiction of the state government as the Legislative Secretariat functions under the authority of the Speaker.
“As far as I know, the facial recognition system seems to have been prepared using photographs already available in the legislature. However, the matter is under the jurisdiction of the Speaker and the Speaker will give appropriate instructions. If he orders an investigation, the police machinery will conduct the investigation,” he said.
Kadam also reiterated that Maharashtra will frame SOPs for the use of AI, but the legal framework governing AI is expected to be issued by the Central government.
