City constables empowered to probe cases
L- G has given powers to the incharge of all police stations to empower graduate constables with 10 years’ experience to investigate cases having a maximum punishment of seven years
In a major decision which is bound to speed up investigations of cases having a maximum punishment of seven years, lieutenant- governor Najeeb Jung has empowered the officer- incharge of police stations to depute any subordinate in the rank of a graduate constable having an experience of 10 years of regular service and one who has passed training in investigations as prescribed by the police commissioner to handle such matters in the national capital.
The landmark order is bound to speed up investigations of cases related to thefts, pick- pocketing, Arms Act, gambling, Defacement Act, Excise Act and Motor Vehicles Act. So far, cases related to theft and Arms Act could be investigated either by an assistant sub- inspector or head constable or any officer higher than these ranks. As far as cases of pick pocketing, gambling, Defacement Act, Excise Act and Motor Vehicles Act could be handled by either the head constable or any officer senior to him.
In his order on Wednesday, the L- G has given powers to the incharge of all police stations to empower a graduate constable having 10 years of experience to investigate these cases. The said constables are also required to have passed the training in investigation as prescribed by the police commissioner.
The order, issued by Raj Niwas said: “In exercise of the powers conferred under sub- Section ( 1) of Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, read with article 239 AA of the Constitution of India, the Hon’ble lieutenant- governor, Delhi ( administrator), is pleased to direct that notwithstanding anything contained in any rules or instructions, the officer- incharge of police station under the said section of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, is empowered to depute any subordinate in the rank of constable ( graduate) having 10 years of regular service and having passed a training in investigation as prescribed by the commissioner of police, Delhi, to investigate cases which have the maximum punishment prescribed as seven years and to perform all such activities which are necessary for conducting the investigation under various laws, rules, standing orders, circulars, etc. including making entries in the daily. Diary, wrong case diaries and case files, drafting final reports, effecting arrests, seizures, submit progress as well as appearance and pairavy of cases in courts, and carrying out all other functions as required for investigation and trial of cases under the CrPC, 1973.”
Even the number of cases registered by the police has gone up drastically this year. Of 1.55 lakh cases registered in 2014, the police had filed FIRs in 1.90 lakh crimes till October 15 last year. But the number of FIRs registered till October 15 this year has already crossed 1.49 lakh mark. For example, in cases of thefts the police had registered 55,369 cases in 2015, but the number of FIRs registered in such matters has already touched 56,255 mark till October 15 this year.