New Act for Delhi policing soon

New Delhi Police Act on anvil, complete revamp of provisions expected.

PTI | February 14, 2011



A brand new legislation that governs all aspects of policing in the capital envisaging among other objectives insulating police from political pressure while doing "normal duty" will be placed before the union cabinet for approval by the end of this month.

According to the home secretary G K Pillai, the new Delhi Police Act will not be just amendment oriented but will see a "complete revamp" of several of its provisions. The new act is expected to serve as a model for other states to follow.

"It is a complete revamp of this (existing Delhi Police Act). It is not an amendment of sorts. That was what a lot of civil society and others wanted. They did not want amendments, they wanted a fresh, new police act. That will come," Pillai said.

The draft bill has been submitted to the home minister P Chidambaram for final approval following which it will go to cabinet by this month-end, Pillai told PTI.

Asked whether the bill will make it to the budget session beginning on February 21, Pillai said it is unlikely as there were a number of legislations pending before Parliament as the winter session did not function properly.

Earlier, the home ministry had prepared a draft Delhi Police (Amendment) Bill, 2009 for which views from public were elicited.

The new bill is likely to suggest setting up of an authority to look into complaints against police independently besides fixing tenures for police commissioner and other senior officers.

The bill also envisages insulating police from political pressure while "doing normal duty", Pillai said.

Emphasising that the new bill demarcates responsibilities "very clearly", he said it is likely to propose setting up of a state security commission having members from government, opposition and civil society.

"The leader of opposition (of Delhi assembly) will be there (in the commission) and those from the Delhi government which will look at the policy as such," the home secretary said.

The proposed bill proposes "considerable amount" of autonomy to police commissioner and police in terms of investigation. "It separates normal law and order and investigation," he said.

Pillai said the bill will incorporate most of the things recommended by police commissions and will serve as a role model for other states.

He said the proposed police complaint authority will be headed by a retired high court judge and have members from the civil society plus some retired police officers.
 

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