How do you police the police – a User’s Guide provides some answers
A User Guide on How To Complain Against Maharashtra Police Now Available, Courtesy CHRI
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative(CHRI)has released a recently prepared User Guide on the Maharashtra’s Police Complaints Authorities or PCAs. These authorities were established to inquire into complaints by the public against police personnel, including grievances as to serious misconduct, corruption, and abuse of authority.
The whole issue of a Police Complaints Authority has evolved after decades’ long struggle by rights groups and sections of the police form for police reform. Communalism Combat was at the forefront of this campaign in the 1990s-2000s and https://cjp.org.in/category/criminal-law-reform/police-reforms/Citizens for Justice and Peace(CJP) now.
The PCAs were established in Maharashtra in 2014. Theyhave been set up at two levels; there is one at the state level and six at the divisionallevel in Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Amravati and Konkan.The PCAs were founded through amendments made to the state Police Act passedthrough the Maharashtra Police (Amendment and Continuance) Act, 2014.
As per the User Guide, PCAs, whether state and divisional, have the following powers:
- To conduct inquiries suomotu or through complaints against Police Officers, hear all concerned persons, receive evidence, and giverecommendations to be implemented by the police department and the state government;
- To advise the state government to ensure the protection of witnesses, victims and their familieswho face, or may face, threats or harassment for filing a complaint against the police;
- To visit any police station, lock-up or other place of detention used by the police (with written authorisationfrom the Chairperson).
Since the primary function of PCAs is to strengthen police accountability, the User Guide notes that the public can push the police to fulfil their role as police accountability bodies by seeking assistance of these PCAs. For this, it is imperative for the people to begin understanding PCA-related mandates and powers.
With this in mind, the CHRIGuide explains and provides information about what PCAs do, how they work, thetypes of complaints you can make to them, the process to make complaints, the rights ofcomplainants and witnesses, and the kind of remedies you can expect from them.
The User Guide answers all potential queries to approaching a PCA, including:
- Who can file a complaint to the PCA?
- How do a complaint be filed?
- What steps will the PCA take after my complaint is filed?
- How does the PCA conduct an inquiry?
- How will PCAs conduct hearings?
- How does a PCA take decisions?
- Who implements the PCA’s order?
- How does the PCA maintain transparency?
Related Articles:
- Reforms now!
- Julio Ribeiro in Conversation with Teesta Setalvad (English)
- My Ancestors were Freedom Fighters, I will not let my Grief tear the Nation apart Son killed in Asansol riots, Imam Imdadul Rashidi appeals against violence and vengeance
How do you police the police – a User’s Guide provides some answers
A User Guide on How To Complain Against Maharashtra Police Now Available, Courtesy CHRI
The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative(CHRI)has released a recently prepared User Guide on the Maharashtra’s Police Complaints Authorities or PCAs. These authorities were established to inquire into complaints by the public against police personnel, including grievances as to serious misconduct, corruption, and abuse of authority.
The whole issue of a Police Complaints Authority has evolved after decades’ long struggle by rights groups and sections of the police form for police reform. Communalism Combat was at the forefront of this campaign in the 1990s-2000s and https://cjp.org.in/category/criminal-law-reform/police-reforms/Citizens for Justice and Peace(CJP) now.
The PCAs were established in Maharashtra in 2014. Theyhave been set up at two levels; there is one at the state level and six at the divisionallevel in Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Amravati and Konkan.The PCAs were founded through amendments made to the state Police Act passedthrough the Maharashtra Police (Amendment and Continuance) Act, 2014.
As per the User Guide, PCAs, whether state and divisional, have the following powers:
- To conduct inquiries suomotu or through complaints against Police Officers, hear all concerned persons, receive evidence, and giverecommendations to be implemented by the police department and the state government;
- To advise the state government to ensure the protection of witnesses, victims and their familieswho face, or may face, threats or harassment for filing a complaint against the police;
- To visit any police station, lock-up or other place of detention used by the police (with written authorisationfrom the Chairperson).
Since the primary function of PCAs is to strengthen police accountability, the User Guide notes that the public can push the police to fulfil their role as police accountability bodies by seeking assistance of these PCAs. For this, it is imperative for the people to begin understanding PCA-related mandates and powers.
With this in mind, the CHRIGuide explains and provides information about what PCAs do, how they work, thetypes of complaints you can make to them, the process to make complaints, the rights ofcomplainants and witnesses, and the kind of remedies you can expect from them.
The User Guide answers all potential queries to approaching a PCA, including:
- Who can file a complaint to the PCA?
- How do a complaint be filed?
- What steps will the PCA take after my complaint is filed?
- How does the PCA conduct an inquiry?
- How will PCAs conduct hearings?
- How does a PCA take decisions?
- Who implements the PCA’s order?
- How does the PCA maintain transparency?
Related Articles:
- Reforms now!
- Julio Ribeiro in Conversation with Teesta Setalvad (English)
- My Ancestors were Freedom Fighters, I will not let my Grief tear the Nation apart Son killed in Asansol riots, Imam Imdadul Rashidi appeals against violence and vengeance
Related articles
Related Articles
Politics
FIRs suggest wrestlers had informed PM about their repeated sexual trauma in 2021
In the two FIRs filed against Singh, at least 12 incidents of molestation, groping, stalking, and intimidation were detailed
Politics
FIRs suggest wrestlers had informed PM about their repeated sexual trauma in 2021
In the two FIRs filed against Singh, at least 12 incidents of molestation, groping, stalking, and intimidation were detailed
Theme
A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back
Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.
Campaigns
Videos
Communalism
Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity
Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .
Communalism
Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity
Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .
Archives
IN FACT
Podcasts
Analysis
A recap of all that transpired across India in terms of hate speech and even outright hate crimes, as well as the persecution of those who dared to speak up against hate. This disturbing harvest of hate should now push us to do more to forge harmony.
Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back
Communalism Combat had taken a deep dive into the lives of people of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Here we reproduce some of our archives documenting the plight of hapless Afghanis, especially women, who suffered the most under the hardline regime.
In the year devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic, India witnessed apathy against some of its most marginalised people and vilification of dissenters by powerful state and non state actors. As 2020 draws to a close, and hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers continue their protest in the bitter North Indian cold. Read how Indians resisted all attempts to snatch away fundamental and constitutional freedoms.
The 2020 COVID pandemic brought to fore the dismal lives that our migrant workers lead. Read these heartbreaking stories of how they lived before the pandemic, how the lockdown changed their lives and what they’re doing now.
Freedom
Govt teacher suspended for FB post critical of K’ka CM Siddaramaiah’s freebies
