Facing flak from the Supreme Court for manhandling a woman, the Punjab Government and its police is allegedly heading for another rap on its knuckles for failing to set up a police complaint authority in the State, among other things.
Raising the issue, the Punjab Congress alleged that the State Government blatantly lied to the SC by claiming that Police Complaint Authority (PCA) was in existence, besides the Police Establishment Board, and State Security Mission as a part of police reforms commission.
The Apex Court has issued seven-point directives to all the state and Union Territories to implement police reforms commission in 2006, including setting up of Police Complaint Authority, Police Establishment Board, and State Security Mission.
The revelations came at a time when the State is facing weakening law and order situation, and witnessing surge in crime related cases.
Moreover, several cases have came into light in the recent past where the police authorities have intentionally delayed actions under alleged political pressure, or acted inhumanely, among other instances of lack of discipline in performing their duty.
Substantiating his claims with the information gathered under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sunil Kumar Jakhar maintained that he was exploring the legal options to be impleaded as a party in the ongoing case in this regard in the Apex Court.
Alleging the State Government for “blatantly lying” in the affidavit submitted to the “highest court”, Jakhar said that the State Home affairs and justice department, as per RTI information received on September 2012, maintained that no police
complaint authority has ever been set up in the state or at district level.
While, on the other hand, the Home Minister’s reply in the lok Sabha on March 5, 2013, stated that Punjab is among the states which has set up all the three “independent” units as per SC directions.
“This is a total lie how can they lie to the highest court I am
exploring legal options to be a party in the ongoing case SC is monitoring the situation in the state (after taking suo motu cognizance of attack on a dalit girl in Tarn Taran), and we will try to get some directions to the state,” said Jakhar.
Referring to The Punjab Police Act, 2007, Jakhar read out Chapter VIII under title ‘Police Accountability’, that the State Government “may by notification, constitute Police Complaints Authorities at the State level as well as District level”.
DCM Complaint Cell, instead of PCA
Instead of having a Police Complaint Authority as per Apex Court’s directives, the Punjab Government has set up a 24X7-citizen portal and a toll free phone number — 1800-180-2082 — in December last for the “aggrieved” citizens, unhappy with the police investigation or its inaction.
Via this round-the-clock suggestion and feedback portal, the citizens can register their complaint on the website — www.punjabpolice.gov.in — with the Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) Complaint Cell, headed by the ADGP (law and Order), under the direct supervision of state Police chief.
The complainants who would not get justice can register their complaint, and they would get reply within 21 days, or instantly in urgent cases.
However, when the police authorities were contacted regarding the number of complaints received by the Cell , it could not provide the data. The concerned official told The Pioneer that the inflow of complaints was higher in the initial months, but dipped with time.
Regarding action taken on the complaints, he again failed to furnish the exact number.