Police Complaints Authority (India)

The Police Complaints Authority were to be established at the state and district levels following the judgement by the 2006 Supreme Court of India, in the Prakash Singh and Ors. v. Union of India and Ors. AIR 2006 SCC 1 Case,{{Cite web|title=Prakash Singh Vs Union of India Judgement Copy|url=https://article51a.in/wp-content/uploads/Prakash-Singh-Case-judgement.pdf|website=Article 51A}} in response to the huge volume of complaints against the police and the endemic lack of accountability.{{cite thesis|title = Police Complaints Authorities in India - A Rapid Study|url = http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/publications/police/PCA_Rapid_Study_December_2012_FINAL.pdf|access-date = 2015-11-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/government/delhi-riots-police-accountability|title=The Laws That Could Ensure Police Accountability and How They've Been Ignored|website=The Wire|access-date=2020-03-12}}

State Police Complaints Authority makes recommendations to government for taking disciplinary action against erring police officers.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/spca-recommends-action-against-two-ips-officers-based-in-mumbai-6118529/|title=SPCA recommends action against two IPS officers based in Mumbai|date=2019-11-14|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}}

Elected members of PCA will be seated at their respective posts by Thursday 29 August in their respective District Council hall. Programs have been fixed by Aayog Commissions of India and posts will be given in presence of District Higher Officials.

{{Main|Assam

Police}}

BP Katakey is the Chairperson of this Assam Police Accountability Commission. In 2018, there were 288 public complaints on various counts against police personnel from across Assam including 143 of alleged police inaction or negligence.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/top-headlines/288-public-complaints-against-assam-police-in-2018/|title=288 Public complaints against Assam Police in 2018|date=2020-03-02|website=The Sentinel|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}}

{{Main|Chandigarh Police}}

In February 2020, inspector Baljeet Singh, former SHO of Mauli Jagran station was appointed as the in-charge of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) in Chandigarh.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/graft-tainted-inspector-is-police-watchdog-chief-in-chandigarh/story-6UKzUV4j6gLCQxZORXzhGP.html|title=Graft-tainted inspector is police watchdog chief in Chandigarh|date=2020-02-28|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/state-editions/in--brief-in--brief-2020-03-07.html|title=In Brief|last=Pioneer|first=The|website=The Pioneer|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/will-furnish-documents-on-feb-24-cops-assure-pca-43811|title=Will furnish documents on Feb 24, cops assure PCA|last=Service|first=Tribune News|website=The Tribune|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/chandigarh-pca-is-not-against-police-dept-it-is-for-enquiry-into-allegations-concerning-serious-misconduct-6150059/|title=Chandigarh: 'PCA is not against police dept, it is for enquiry into allegations concerning serious misconduct'|date=2019-12-04|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}} There is also UT vigilance department in Chandigarh.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/chandigarh-case-against-dental-surgeon-pca-writes-to-ut-slams-police-for-not-producing-record-before-it-6229219/|title=Chandigarh: PCA writes to UT, slams police for not producing record before it|date=2020-01-22|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}}

{{Main|Delhi Police}}

In February 2019, PCA is working under the chairmanship of Justice P S Teji (retd) and other members are Nutan Guha Biswas, IAS (retd), P Kamraj, IPS (retd) and Tinu Bajwa. Official e-mail for complaints is pca.delhi@nic.in/ and website is pca.delhigovt.nic.in.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indialegallive.com/top-news-of-the-day/news/much-awaited-police-complaints-authority-starts-functioning-in-national-capital-61267|title=Much-awaited Police Complaints Authority starts functioning in national capital|last=Legal|first=India|date=2019-02-26|website=India Legal|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}}{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/justice-retd-teji-appointed-chairman-of-police-complaints-authority-119022601060_1.html|title=Justice (Retd) Teji appointed chairman of Police Complaints Authority|date=2019-02-26|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2020-03-12}}

{{Main|Haryana Police}}

Up to 2019, 681 complaints received by the authority with staff strength of three persons.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/haryana-police-complaints-body-running-headless-govt-auditor/articleshow/72315674.cms|title=Haryana Police complaints body running headless: Govt auditor|last=Saini|first=Manvir|website=The Times of India|date=December 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/govt-fast-tracks-appointments-to-police-complaints-authority-731173|title=Govt fast-tracks appointments to police complaints authority|last=Service|first=Tribune News|website=The Tribune|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}

{{Main|Jammu and Kashmir Police}}

Ministry of Home Affairs may like to have one Police Complaints Authority for the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh keeping in view various aspects including single police force for both the UTs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/mha-likely-to-establish-police-complaints-authority-in-jk-ut/|title=MHA likely to establish Police Complaints Authority in J&K UT|last=Excelsior|first=Daily|date=2019-09-15|website=Daily Excelsior|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}}

{{Main|Karnataka Police}}

Justice C R Kumaraswamy was appointed of chairperson of the Karnataka Police Complaints Authority.{{Cite web|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/police-watchdog-makes-way-for-mining-tainted-minister-anand-p-singh/articleshow/74051567.cms|title=Police watchdog makes way for mining-tainted minister Anand P Singh|last=Reddy|first=Y. Maheswara|website=Bangalore Mirror|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}} Public need to submit the complaint by contacting on phone number 08262 230403 or by mailing to dpcackm@karnataka.gov.in in case of complaints against deputy superintendent of police and police personnel of lower ranks and contacting on phone number 080 22386063 and visiting www.karnataka.gov.in/spca for complaints against the superintendent and officials of higher ranks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/mangaluru/police-complaint-authority-gets-new-office-bearers-744961.html|title=Police Complaint Authority gets new office-bearers|date=2019-07-05|website=Deccan Herald|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}

{{Main|Kerala Police}}

In December 2018, Kerala Legislative Assembly, to overcome a 2017 HC verdict that the orders passed by the KPA chairperson or members without the quorum are invalid, passed the Kerala Police (Amendment) Bill 2018 enabling the PCA chairperson or one or more members, both in the state and district bodies, to dispose of petitions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/dec/07/now-pca-can-conduct-more-sittings-1908279.html|title=Now, Kerala Police Complaints Authority can conduct more sittings|website=The New Indian Express|date=7 December 2018 |access-date=2020-03-12}} Kerala Police complaints Authority's chairman is Justice V K Mohanan and it has no investigation wing to conduct probe into the complaints.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/oct/04/police-complaints-authority-to-get-independent-probe-officer-2042990.html|title=Police complaints authority to get independent probe officer|website=The New Indian Express|date=4 October 2019 |access-date=2020-03-12}} The post of the Chief Investigation Officer (CIO) was sanctioned to investigate custodial violence in 2016, but no progress has been made. Despite three government notifications being published for the recruitment of a Chief Investigation Officer (CIO) of the State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA) in Kerala, the CIO has not been recruited so far, pointing to bureaucratic rigmarole and lack of clarity from the state Home Department in conducting recruitment to a position notified as far back in 2016. Among the three published notifications, the second and third notifications were published when the first and second notifications were prevailing, pointing to a disarray in the Home Department.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/feb/08/no-independent-chief-probe-officer-at-police-plaints-authority-yet-2261040.html|title=No independent chief probe officer at police plaints authority yet|website=The New Indian Express|date=8 February 2021 |access-date=2021-02-08}}

{{Main|Maharashtra Police}}

Up till February 2020, authority received 1490 complaints against the police.{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-a-sleeper-police-complaint-cell|title=Mumbai: A 'sleeper' police complaint cell|website=Free Press Journal|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}} In 2014, Government Resolution was issued to establish the State PCA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/state-fails-to-renew-police-complaint-authority-contract/22394169|title=State fails to renew Police Complaint Authority contract|date=2020-01-09|website=mid-day|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}} In March 2020, Bombay High Court Justice (retd) Shrihari P Davare was appointed the new chairperson of the Maharashtra State Police Complaints Authority whereas Ashish Paswan elected as Directorate of special security Maharashtra in 2022.

{{Main|Punjab Police (India)}}

In October 2019, Government cleared appointments to be made to the State Police Complaints Authority and Divisional Police Complaints Authorities under 'The Punjab Police Act, 2007,' approving the Punjab Police (Appointment of Chairperson and Members of Complaints Authorities), Rules, 2019.{{Cite news|url=http://www.uniindia.com/punjab-cabinet-paves-way-for-appointments-to-various-police-complaint-authorities/north/news/1769294.html|title=Punjab Cabinet paves way for appointments to various police complaint authorities|date=2019-10-24|work=United News of India}} In January 2020, retired IAS officer{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/hc-asks-punjab-why-it-prefers-bureaucrats/articleshow/73242366.cms|title=HC asks Punjab why it prefers bureaucrats|last=India|first=Times of|website=The Times of India|date=14 January 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}} (instead of retired judge{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/hc-questions-state-govt-on-police-complaints-authority/story-tXO8oWefpbVldDN0bl98qJ.html|title=HC questions state govt on Police Complaints Authority|date=2020-01-13|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}) NS Kalsi was appointed as chairman of Police Complaints Authority (PCA) for three years{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/retired-ias-officer-ns-kalsi-appointed-police-complaints-authority-chief/story-5eqCglUjKS7LzfzPknkAtL.html|title=Retired IAS officer NS Kalsi appointed police complaints authority chief|date=2020-01-23|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/ns-kalsi-joins-as-punjab-police-complaints-authority-chief-6233018/|title=NS Kalsi joins as Punjab Police Complaints Authority chief|date=2020-01-24|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}} from 8 applicants.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-state-police-complaint-authority-6207895/|title=Punjab: Former DGP, Secy among 8 applicants for chairperson post of state police complaints authority|date=2020-01-09|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}} As per Punjab state human rights commission records, from 1997 to August 2018, 54 per cent (1.44 lakh) of the total 2.63 lakh human rights violations complaints received by it were against police officials which included complaints of abuse of power, false implication in any case and unlawful detention.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/13-years-after-supreme-court-order-punjab-to-get-police-complaints-authority/articleshow/71303290.cms|title=13 years after Supreme Court order, Punjab to get Police Complaints Authority|last=Verma|first=Sanjeev|website=The Times of India|date=26 September 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}

{{Main|Tamil Nadu Police}}

In Tamil Nadu, a Government Order was issued on 14 November 2019 for the constitution of the State level as well as district level police complaints authorities in accordance with Chapter IV of the Tamil Nadu Police (Reforms) Act of 2013.{{Cite news|last=S|first=Mohamed Imranullah|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/police-complaints-authority-constituted-in-tn/article30153790.ece|title='Police Complaints Authority constituted in TN'|date=2019-12-04|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-03-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/hc-seeks-status-report-on-police-complaints-authority/article25657822.ece|title=HC seeks status report on police complaints authority|date=2018-12-04|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-03-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}

{{Main|Telangana State Police}}

In February 2020, Telangana High Court bench directed the state government to frame rules and regulations pertaining to the constitution of SSC and PCA by 6 March.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/050220/telangana-high-court-grills-govt-on-cop-bodies.html|title=Telangana High Court grills govt on cop bodies|last=Vamshidhara|first=Vujjini|date=2020-02-05|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2019/dec/31/set-up-state-security-panel-in-one-month-2083002.html|title='Set up State Security panel in one month'|website=The New Indian Express|date=31 December 2019 |access-date=2020-03-12}}

Police Complaints Authorities are currently considered lame-duck institutions{{Cite web|url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/opinion/power-and-responsibility-404377|title=Power and responsibility|last=Kumar|first=N. Dilip|date=2020-03-06|website=Millennium Post|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}} that lacks bite{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/karnataka-state-police-complaints-authority-lacks-bite/article26226301.ece|title=Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority lacks bite|date=2019-02-09|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-03-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}} with the diluted provisions of the Authority.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/no-police-reforms-despite-sc-order|title=No police reforms despite SC order|date=2019-11-09|website=The Sunday Guardian Live|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}} It is often criticised for delay in justice.{{Cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/one-year-7-hearings-police-complaint-authority-draws-flak-for-delay-in-justice/articleshow/68104898.cms|title=One year, 7 hearings: Police complaint authority draws flak for delay in justice|last=Ganapatye|first=Shruti|website=Mumbai Mirror|language=en|access-date=2020-03-12}}

Recent updates 2023 - Mass.Manoj Kumawat based from pune had recently been appointed as Police Complaints Authority for District Level Post. Chairperson has sent his application to Ministry Of Home Affairs to conduct the further process of appointment to the State Govt. Police Complaints Authority.

• List of cases of police brutality in India
• Law enforcement in India
• Indian Police Service
• Police ranks and insignia of India
• List of Indian police officers
• Police Mitra scheme
• Consumer Court
• Banking Ombudsman Scheme (India)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://pca.delhigovt.nic.in/ Police Complaints Authority Delhi website]
• [https://www.goa.gov.in/department/state-police-complaints-authority/ Police Complaints Authority Goa website]
• [http://diu.gov.in/police-complaint-authority-diu.php Police Complaints Authority Diu website]
• [http://chandigarh.gov.in/dept_pca.htm Police Complaints Authority Chandigarh website]
• [https://homeodisha.gov.in/node/1415 Police Complaints Authority Odisha website]
• [https://gspca.gujarat.gov.in/ Police Complaints Authority Gujarat website]

{{Law enforcement in India}}

{{Indian intelligence agencies}}

{{Indian Penal Code navbox}}

{{Criminal procedure}}

{{Law}}

{{Asia topic|Law enforcement in}}

{{Asia topic|Mass surveillance in}}

{{Crime in Asia}}

{{Social issues in India}}

{{India topics}}

Category:Police misconduct in India

Category:Indian police officers

Category:Police ranks of India

Category:Law enforcement in India

Category:Indian women police officers