The draft manual of the Uttarakhand Police Complaints Authority, sent to the State Government for approval of the Cabinet around five months ago, still awaits the Government's attention. The manual would be effective from the date when the Government publishes it in its official gazette after its approval by the Cabinet and the Assembly.
Presently, the authority functions following its proposed manual with the State Government. Now that the authority is fully constituted, comprising a chairman and four members, it wants to have its own manual as early as possible in order to expedite inquiry into the complaints pending with the authority.
If sources in the authority are to be believed, 67 public complaints from Dehradun are pending with the authority. Similarly, 47 complaints from Haridwar, 60 from Udham Singh Nagar, 17 from Nainital, 12 from Almora, one each from Rudraprayag and Champawat, two each from Pithoragarh, Tehri, Uttarkashi, and Chamoli, five from Pauri and four from Bageshwar are pending. Fourteen complaints, in which complainants did not disclose his identity, are also in the queue. Thus, presently the authority has a total 236 complaints pending.
Officials associated with the authority observe that the authority has completed around five years. Now, it should have its own manual for speedy inquiries into the complaints. When contacted, authority chairman Justice Anjani Kumar said, "The authority finalised and framed the rules (manual), which would be effective only after the approval in the
State Cabinet thereafter its approval in the Assembly. From the date of publication of official gazette, the rules will be effective."
As per the Uttarakhand Police Act, the authority enjoys several powers, including inquiry into public complaints against the police personnel. It may also inquire into any other case, referred to it by the State Government or the Director General of Police if, in the opinion of the Authority, the nature of the case is fit for independent inquiry.
It may monitor the status of departmental inquiries or departmental action on the complaints of 'misconduct' against gazetted officers, through a quarterly reports, obtained periodically from the DGP, and may give appropriate advice to the State Government for completion of action in such cases.
It may also call for a report from the DGP and may issue appropriate advice for further action or a direction for a fresh inquiry by another officer, when a complainant, on being dissatisfied with the outcome of, or inordinate delay in the process of departmental inquiry into his complaint, by any police officer, brings such matter to the notice of the Authority.
Authority may suggest general guidelines for the State Police to revent misconduct on the part of police personnel.