THURSDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2012 
PNS | CUTTACK

Beware, men in khaki! Police Complaints Authorities (PCAs) in Odisha are now going to be a reality to police the erring policemen who were hitherto getting away after committing acts of omission and commission.

Disposing of a PIL (public interest litigation) pertaining to formation of PCAs, the Odisha High Court on Wednesday directed the petitioner to approach the State Home Secretary with a representation in this regard.

The Home Secretary, in his turn, would act upon the representation within 60 days, a Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice V Gopala Gowda and Justice BK Mishra said in its order.

Secretary of Nationalists Lawyers’ Forum Nishikanta Mishra had filed the PIL last month stating that the cases of police misconduct have been mounting in Odisha and there is no independent accountable mechanism to address such blatant wrongdoings of police personnel.

Mishra had maintained that the Supreme Court, way back in 2006, had given the guidelines to all the States to form PCAs at the district and State levels. But unfortunately, the Odisha Government has not bothered to set up such authorities even after six years, Mishra had alleged, wishing the HC’s immediate intervention in the issue.

“As per today’s High Court direction, we are going to submit a representation to the Home Secretary soon, and we hope good sense will prevail upon the State Government in setting up PCAs so that the police highhandedness during arrests and interrogations and custodial violence are checked,” Mishra said after the HC pronounced its order.

The PCAs would inquire into the allegations of serious misconduct of police personnel which includes any act of a police officer that leads to death in police custody, grievous hurt, rape or attempt to commit rape, arrest or detention without due process of law, extortion, land or house grabbing or any incident involving serious abuse of authority by police personnel.

As per the apex court’s guidelines, there should be PCA at the district level to look into complaints against police officers up to the rank of DSP. Similarly, the guidelines said there should be another PCA at the State level to look into complaints against officers of the rank of SP and above.