HC raps govt over non-functioning Police Complaint Authority

The Bombay High Court today rapped the Maharashtra government for its failure in making the State Police Complaint Authority functional despite having all its infrastructure in place complete with the members.
A division bench of Justice R V More voiced its ire while hearing a bunch of petitions alleging lack of an institutional mechanism for redressal of complaints against police officers.
The bench soughgt the appearance of joint secretary (Home) before it on the next date of hearing to explain the government's failure in making the Authority functional.
"This court has been hearing these petitions for the last three years. The State Police Complaint Authority was to be set up and made functional by now. But nothing has been done by the government except setting up the Authority and appointing its chairperson and members," Justice More said.

"What is causing the delay? Why is the complaint authority still not functional?" he asked.
"The government is being very callous in its approach and taking the issue very lightly. We want the joint secretary of the state Home Department to appear before us," the court said and posted the matter for further hearing on April 13.

The court referred to a 2006 order of the Supreme Court which directed all state governments to set up state and district level authorities to hear complaints against police officers.
"The government, by not making the authority functional, is flouting the Supreme Court order and can be held for contempt," said Justice More.

The Police Complaints Authority at the state level will look into the complaints against officers of the rank of superintendent of police and above.
The authority at the district level will look into the complaints against the police officers up to the rank of deputy superintendent of police.