Odisha opposes new laws for CBI

Naveen Patnaik also opposed enactment of new laws to deal with federal crimes

Odisha has opposed framing of any new laws by the Centre for administration of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the present system is robust enough to address various issues.

“No new legislation on CBI should be made without consulting the state government and the present system of CBI, which conducts investigation only with the concurrence of the state government, be continued in the true spirit of the federal structure,” said chief minister Naveen Patnaik at a conference on reforms in public order.

Patnaik, who attended the Chief Ministers’ conference at Delhiaccompanied by chief secretary B K Patnaik, home secretary U N Behera and Police DG Prakash Mishra, also opposed enactment of new laws to deal with federal crimes.

Since the National Investigating Agency (NIA) is addressing these matters adequately, no new legislation is necessary, Patnaik said at the meeting, convened by Union Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.

The state objected to the proposal of deployment of central forces without the permission of respective government and the proposal to abolish constable posts from police services.

Regarding other administrative reforms in police services, the state agreed that there should be separation of investigation from law and order, creation of Inspectorate of Police, strengthening the position of District Magistrate, enforcement wings and other departments such as excise, forest, transport, food supplies and consumer affairs and those related to intelligence gathering, police training and community policing.

The Chief Minister said that the Odisha is in the process of finalizing a new Odisha Police Act, which will incorporate the direction of the Supreme Court, the Model Police Act recommended by Soli Sorabjee Committee and the recommendation of Administrative reforms Commission.

The state has already created three Police Establishment Committees to deal with the transfer of and posting of police officers. In 2008, it had set up a Police Complaint Authority to look into the matters of complaint against various officers at district and state levels.