Rejecting certain recommendations made in the Fifth Report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) on 'public order' and the new legislation on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday said those were against the country’s Federal structure. "Some recommendations contained in the report are not acceptable as these impinge on our basic Federal structure," Patnaik said on his return here after attending a conference of Chief Ministers in New Delhi.
Stating that enactment of new laws to deal with Federal crimes is not acceptable since the National Investigation Agency Act is already addressing these issues adequately, he said that no new legislation on the CBI should be made without consulting the States. Also the present system of the CBI taking up investigation only with concurrence of State Governments should be continued in the true spirit of the Federal structure, he added.
Deployment of Central forces should be made only on the specific requisition of a State Government, he said. Patnaik, who along with other non-Congress Chief Ministers, stalled formation of the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), has been accusing the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre of infringing on the Federal rights of the States. He has also been seeking more powers for the States.
Patnaik said his State Government agrees in principle to some of the 153 ARC recommendations like separation of investigation from law and order with some modifications, creation of inspectorate of police, strengthening the position of District Magistrate and the enforcement wings of departments such as forest, excise and transport. Patnaik said Odisha has set up three Police Establishment Committees to deal with transfers and postings of various levels of police officers in the State in a transparent manner. Further, a Police Complaints Authority would be set up to look after complaints against the police officers. This apart, Odisha has created a permanent cadre of Public Prosecutors to strengthen the prosecution machinery, he said, adding, "We are in the process of finalising a new Odisha Police Act incorporating reforms."