Chapter Three Indian Police: an Overview
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Chapter Three: Indian Police: An Overview CHAPTER THREE INDIAN POLICE: AN OVERVIEW 3.1 INTRODUCTION Like many other countries, Police Force in India plays vital role of maintaining law and order situation at all levels starting from the Central, State, Range, District and Sub-District level in rural as well as urban areas. Because of such a significant role, Police force is considered as the strong arm of the State. Increasing population is mainly responsible for many other problems which pose threat to the safety and security of the country. Further the problem gets aggravated by industrialization, urbanization and rising political consciousness. Long pending ancestral issues, violence caused by political, caste and communal issues, even unrest on the part of students and labor may be responsible for disturbing peace and harmony of the society. The present unit tries to take a look at the police organization in all its levels, while throwing light on very sensitive issues disturbing the administration of the police. Any society becomes safe and ideal if the police are easily approachable. People should be able to interact with them with ease; hence it is called as the dynamic organization of any society. The police perform various kinds of role. Though these roles appear to be simple, they have their own challenges and complexities. Apparently, the police are mainly responsible for the maintenance of law and maintenance of order. Getting the insights of the police duties, one notices numerous ramifications, resulting in making a large inventory of duties, powers, roles and responsibilities of the police organization. 78 Chapter Three: Indian Police: An Overview As per the Police Act of 1861, the present Indian police system is created. This act enables the Executive Government to be the decision making authority, whereas the employees are treated as subordinates. Subsequently, with the passing of time, many changes and modification were introduced in the layout and implementation of the system of the police. In spite of this, the police act of 1861 is still followed in terms of structure and characteristics. At the time of independence of India in 1947, the police force had already established the best working practices. Therefore, post independent time looked at the police force as a capable unit to take India in a new area, with new challenges, while giving guarantee of safety and security. 3.2 ROLE, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF THE POLICE As per (n) Sec (57), Model Police Act 2006, the roles and functions of the police force in general are as follows: a) To give protection and give justice with the help of law in a fair manner, without doing any favour. At the same time, to be careful about liberty, property, human rights, and dignity of the general public. b) To work for the promotion of public order, ensuring to preserve it. c) To advocate and boost the internal security, to keep an eye on the sensitive issues and prevent and control terrorist activities. Likewise, any activity threatening the breaking of communal peace and harmony should be addressed immediately. Any kind of activity affecting internal security should be dealt with urgently. d) To take care of and protect public properties including roads, railways, bridges, vital installations and establishments etc. against acts of vandalism, violence or any kind of attack from internal or external sources. 79 Chapter Three: Indian Police: An Overview e) To keep an eye on criminal activities and try to control crimes. Paying attention to reducing possible outcome of crime by using corrective measures. In doing so, extending support and cooperation to the other relevant agencies in implementing due measures for prevention of crimes. f) To be precise and maintain accuracy in recording all complaints brought to them by a complainant or his representative. These complaints may be registered in person or received by post, e-mail or other means. After registering, taking immediate action to resolve it and if necessary, take regular follow-up of the same. g) To take a note of all cognizable offences and register them, and investigate it through proper action of complaints or otherwise, duly supplying a copy of the First Information Report to the complainant, and where appropriate, to apprehend offenders, and extend requisite assistance in the prosecution of offenders; h) To ensure the feeling of safety and security in the society, try the level best create and maintain a feeling of security in the community, and as far as possible prevent conflicts and promote unity and brotherhood. i) At the time any disaster in the form of natural or man-made calamity, it is the duty of police to be attentive and ready for action. At the same time, all possible help should be extended to other agencies in relief and rehabilitation programs. j) To help out any individual who calls for help, possibly in any danger due to physical harm or property matter. Also to reach out the needy people caught in any distressful situation. k) Along with the people it is the duty of the police to help in smooth functioning of the traffic in any form on roads and highways. 80 Chapter Three: Indian Police: An Overview l) To gather information about intelligence in the matter of public interest in peace, and all kind of crimes including social offences, communalism, extremism, terrorism and other matters relating to national security, and disseminate the same to all concerned agencies, besides acting, as appropriate on it themselves. m) Being a police officer to take charge of the situation in terms of crisis of all unclaimed property and take action for their safe custody and disposal in accordance with the procedure prescribed. n) To give training, inspiration and ensure welfare of police personnel. 3.3 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POLICE As per sec. (58) Model Police Act 2006, every police officer shall: a) Behave modestly, politely and courteously with the people from the society, they should maintain decorum in speaking. Special care should be taken at the time of talking to children, women and even senior citizens. b) Give direction to the needy people at the time of difficult situation and help them. Priority should always be given to senior citizen, women, children, the poor and indigent and the physically or mentally challenged. c) Persons in a pathetic condition, at public places or at any other places and should be protected. d) In case of victims in criminal cases, accidents, people caught in a serious life threatening condition, immediate help should be provided. Medical help should be given in an urgent basis to the needy. Legal claims and other formalities should be given on urgent way. 81 Chapter Three: Indian Police: An Overview e) At the time of critical needs, especially during conflict between communities, classes, castes and political groups, the conduct of the police is always governed by the principles of impartiality and human rights norms, with special attention to protection of weaker sections including minorities. f) In public places, creating such a surrounding in which harassment of women and children should be avoided and public transport, including stalking, making objectionable gestures, signs, remarks or harassment caused in any way. g) Apart from the above necessary duties, providing all necessary help to the members of the public, particularly women, children, and the poor and indigent persons, against criminal exploitation by any person or organized group; and h) Arrange for legally permissible sustenance and shelter to every person in custody and making known to all such people‘s provisions of legal aid schemes available from the Government and also inform the authorities concerned in this regard. i) Maintain, sustain and preserve, promote and protect human rights and interests of weaker sections, backward classes, poor, weak and the downtrodden. At the same time, as and when necessary, provide the help to all and sundry. 3.4 MAHARASHTRA POLICE: AT A GLANCE Maharashtra Police acts as an agency in the state of Maharashtra to look after law and order situation of the state. Director General of Police is the chief of this organization and it has headquarters in the capital of Maharashtra, in Mumbai. As the size of Maharashtra is one of the largest in the country with 35 districts, there are 35 police units in every district of the state. It makes the police unit one of the 82 Chapter Three: Indian Police: An Overview largest police departments in the country. As of now, it has around 1.95 lakh employees with sizable number of women i. e. 1.5 lakh women in its force. Along with 302 Indian Police Service officers borne on the State Cadre, there are 282 Superintendents of Police, 523 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 3522 Inspectors, 3123 Assistant Police Inspectors, and 6230 Sub Inspectors. Being an industrialized state with significant urbanization, there are urban conglomerates and it has adopted Commissionaire system for policing its large cities. As of now, there are 10 Commissionaires and 35 district police units. More information in a detailed way is readily available in Maharashtra Police Department, with sub heading "Districts & Commissionaires and "Special Units of MPD" on the menu bar of the home page. Maharashtra Police keeps functioning effectively with the motto . It means that Maharashtra Police is committed to ‘Protect the Righteous and Control & Annihilate the Evil’. 3.4.1 SPECIAL UNITS Maharashtra Police has the following special units: State Intelligence Department (SID): It was formed in 1905 with the name ‘Criminal Investigation Department’ (Intelligence Wing), however, it was renamed State Intelligence Department, its current name in 1981. Commissioner of Intelligence acts the head of this department. Maharashtra State CID: It has head quarter in Pune and was established in 1905 as Crime Branch.