TS, AP HAVE NO BODY TO PULL UP COPS

Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh have no State Security Commission (SSC) and no Police Complaint Authority (PCA), despite being directed by the Hyderabad High Court to constitute the two bodies. The SSC will ensure efficient, transparent and accountable performance of the police. The PCA deals with complaints from the public regarding acts of serious misconduct by policemen.

In April 2017, Justice A. Ramalingeswara Rao of the Hyderabad High Court directed the TS and AP governments to constitute the SSC and PCA, within three months. The state agency deals with complaints raised against police officials, either during an investigation of the case or for refusing to file an FIR or officials abusing the common man.

The directive was in tune with a Supreme Court judgment that contains several guidelines for states to set up SSCs and PCAs.

P. Shiva Kumar, who filed a petition in the court for establishing SSC and PCA said, “Both governments are not abiding by the SC judgment and HC direction to constitute an authority which would conduct an inquiry into allegations and atrocities raised against police.

Not many are aware of the Police Complaint Authority, which has the powers of a civil court.”

The bodies must be established at district and state level. The district level PCA should be headed by a retired district judge, while the state level PCA by a retired HC judge.

These chiefs will be assisted by a committee of three or four members depending on the volume of complaints.

The direction of the HC given by Justice Ramalingeswara Rao also mentioned that formation of SSC is to ensure that a state government does not exercise unwarranted influence or pressure on the state police.

Each SSC shall be headed by the chief minister or home minister as chairman and have the DGP of the state as its ex-officio secretary.