In a major decision, Delhi police constables are being given the power to investigate petty offences such as pick-pocketing, thefts, gambling, defacement act, excise act and motor vehicle act and cases of Arms Act. Constables who are graduates and have completed a service of 10 years will be entrusted with investigation to lessen the burden on the IOs.
A notification to this effect has been issued by Home Department of Delhi Government following the directions of lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. The l-G has empowered the officer-in-charge of the police stations to depute any subordinate in the rank of a graduate constable having an experience of 10 years of regular service and one who has passed training in investigations as prescribed by the police commissioner to handle such matters in the national Capital.
The order, issued by Raj Niwas said, “In exercise of the powers conferred under sub section (1) of section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, read with article 239 AA of the Constitution of India, the Hon’ble lt Governor, Delhi (Administrator) is pleased to direct that notwithstanding anything contained in any rules or instructions, the Officer-in-Charge of Police Station under the said section of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, is empowered to depute any subordinate in the rank of constable (Graduate) having 10 years of regular service and having passed a training in investigation as prescribed by the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to investigate cases which have the maximum punishment prescribed as seven years and to perform all such activities which are necessary for conducting the investigation under various laws, rules, standing orders, circulars, etc. including making entries in the Daily Diary, writing case diaries and case files, drafting final reports, effecting arrests, seizures, submit progress as well as appearance and privacy of cases in courts, and carrying out all other functions as required for investigation and trial of cases under the CrPC, 1973.”
With this notification, the l-G has given powers to the in-charge of all police stations to empower graduate constables having 10 years of experience to investigate these cases. The said constables are also required to have passed the training in investigation as prescribed by the police commissioner.
The order is bound to speed up the investigations of cases related to thefts, pick-pocketing, Arms Act, gambling, Defacement Act, Excise Act and Motor Vehicles Act. So far, the cases related to theft and Arms Act could be investigated either by an assistant sub-inspector or head constable or any officer higher than these ranks. As far as cases of pick-pocketing, gambling, Defacement Act, Excise Act and Motor Vehicles Act could be handled by either the head constable or any officer senior to him.
Even the number of cases registered by police has gone up drastically this year. Of 1.55 lakh cases registered in 2014, the police had filed FIRs in 1.90 lakh crimes till October 15 last year. But the number of FIRs registered till October 15 this year has already crossed 1.49 lakh mark. For example, in cases of theft the police had registered 55,369 cases in 2015, but the number of FIRs registered in such matters has already touched 56,255 mark till October 15 this year.