AAP govt to form panels to address complaints against Delhi Police

The four-member selection committee of chairpersons and members for these authorities will be headed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta as members.

“The State Police Complaint Authority will look into complaints against officers of the Delhi Police above the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police and the district-level body will investigate into complaints against officers below DCP level,” said spokesperson of Delhi government.

“The decision has been taken in pursuance of the Supreme Court order in letter and spirit,” added the spokesperson. The Cabinet chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also decided that the Public Grievance Commission will not look after the work of police complaint authority and the Police Complaint Authority would be set up for the same. The decision is likely to create controversies as the Delhi Police does not fall under the jurisdiction of Delhi government and any such authority needs <g data-gr-id="28">approval</g> of Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

The State Level Police Complaint Authority shall consist of a chairman and five members who shall be appointed by the Delhi government with a retired judge of the High Court or Supreme Court as its chairperson. “The chairperson will be selected by a selection committee out of a panel of names proposed by the Chief Justice of Delhi high court,” the spokesperson added.

As per the decision, the five whole-time members of the State Level Police Complaint Authority would be chosen from retired civil servants, police officers or officers from any other department, or from the civil society. At least one member should be a lady. “The five members shall be selected by a selection committee out of a panel of names proposed by Lokayukta, Delhi Commission for Women and State Human Rights Commission (if it has been formed),”added the spokesperson.

The chairperson of the District Level Police Complaints Authority will be selected by the names proposed by the Chief Justice or a judge nominated by the Chief Justice. Here too, there will be five whole-time members chosen from retired civil servants, police officers or officers from any other department or from the civil society with at least one member being a lady. These members will also be selected by the Delhi government from a panel proposed by the Lokayukta, the Delhi Commission for Women and the State Human Rights Commission (if it has been formed). The district-level authority will deal with complaints related to officers/other staff of the rank of ACP and below.