HC seeks Gujarat's reply to PIL on Police Complaints Authority

The Gujarat High Court today sought the state government's reply to a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding establishment of a Police Complaints Authority as per norms set by the Supreme Court.
A division bench of Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice J B Pardiwala asked the Gujarat government to file its reply within three weeks on a petitioner's allegation that Gujarat had overruled the Supreme Court's direction in establishing a Police Complaints Authority.
A citizen of Ahmedabad, Dashrath Marwadi had filed the PIL and sought the Gujarat High Court's direction to the state of Gujarat to set up a Police Complaints Authority after a Supreme Court order.

In 2006, the Supreme Court had directed all state governments to set up a Police Complaints Authority to address grievances of ordinary citizens against police officials, the PIL said.
In its order, the Supreme Court had categorically directed appointment of a retired Supreme Court judge or a high court judge as chairperson of the Police Complaints Authority at the state level and a retired sessions court judge at the district level, the PIL said.
However, in August 2013, Gujarat government created provisions according to which a former chief secratary could be made the chairperson of Gujarat-level Police Complaints Authority, the PIL said.

According to Gujarat government created provisions, a Superintendent of Police (SP) could be made a chairperson of the district level Police Complaints Authority, the PIL said.