The Odisha Police Bill-2015, introduced by the Government in the Assembly on Monday, proposes a fixed tenure of at least two years for Director General of Police (DGP) and other top police functionaries. “The proposed legislation is aimed at redefining role of police, their duties and responsibilities to strengthen security of the State amid emerging challenges,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh who introduced the Bill on behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who holds Home portfolio.
The Bill seeks to consolidate the provisions of the Police Act, 1861 and the Odisha State Armed Police Act, 1946 in a single legislation for better police administration, he said. According to the Bill, the State would be divided into several police ranges and each range would be divided into police districts, and each district would be divided into police sub-divisions. A certain number of police stations would work under each sub-division.
The Bill also proposes that a criminal investigation unit might be created in each police station whose jurisdiction is considered as crime-prone. The police officers posted to such units would not be ordinarily diverted for any other duty without special permission from higher authorities.
The Bill also proposes creation of armed police units by forming an Armed Police Reserve for each police district as well as at the State level. Besides, it aims at establishment of a State Police Security Commission headed by the Chief Minister to aid and advise the Government in matters of accountable policing.
These apart, the Bill provides for creation of a State-level Police Complaint Authority and a Police Establishment Board with the DGP as chairperson. At the range and district levels, similar boards would be formed to look after transfers and postings of police staffs.