LAW, ORDER AND JUSTICE

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Organisation

The superintendence of the police force throughout the state vests in and is exercisable by the state government. The state government appoints the Inspector-General of Police for the direction and supervision of the police force. He is responsible for the proper recruitment, education, housing and equipment of the police force and regulates its internal organisation and method of working. He is assisted by two Assistant Inspector-Generals of Police.

For the purposes of administration, Maharashtra State has been divided into four police ranges besides Greater Bombay. These four ranges correspond with the four divisions of the state for which Divisional Officers have been appointed. In Greater Bombay, the Commissioner of Police who is second in the administrative hierarchy is in charge of the city police force. [Recently Police Commissioners have been appointed for Poona and Nagpur:] The State C. I. D., the State Reserve Police Force and the Police Training Schools are under the control of an officer of the rank of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police at the headquarters. Each range in the state is in charge of a Deputy Inspector-General and is divided into districts (corresponding with the revenue districts). A district is in charge of a district superintendent of police. The district magistrate has control over the district superintendent of police and the police force in the district. He also supervises the policies and administration of law within the district. However, he does not interfere into the questions of recruitment, internal economy or organisation of the police force in the district.

The police force in Bhir district is under control of the district superintendent of police with headquarters at Bhir. For administrative purposes the district is divided into two sub-divisions, viz., Bhir and Ambejogai, each in charge of an assistant or deputy superintendent of police. The former sub-division comprises 11 police stations and three outposts and the latter, ten police stations and three out-posts. Each of the sub-divisional officer is assisted by a circle police inspector and a home police inspector. The crime branch and the local intelligence branch in the district are under a police inspector and a police sub-inspector, respectively. The police stations in the district are in charge of the sub-inspectors and the outposts are in charge of the head constables. The recruitment, training and the distribution of arms and ammunition are entrusted to the reserve police sub-inspector at the district headquarters, and are supervised by the police inspector.

Functions

The deputy superintendent of police controls and supervises the police force under him. He tours extensively in the district to carry out yearly inspection of every police station and outpost. He visits the scenes of serious offences and gives suitable instructions to his subordinates.

The sub divisional police officers work under the general supervision of the district superintendent. They are primarily responsible for the control of crimes committed in the area under their charge and for the efficiency and discipline of the subordinate staff in the division. They are expected to carry out a detailed inspection of the police stations and out-posts in their jurisdiction. Each of them is assisted by one sub-divisional inspector.

The inspector of police supervises the work of the subordinate staff and checks the movements of bad characters and gangs in the area under his jurisdiction. He also co-ordinates the control of crime by the different police stations in his circle.

A police sub-inspector is in charge of a police station and is responsible for prevention and detection of crime in the area under his charge. He is also responsible for the proper execution of the orders of his superiors. He is assisted by the head constables and constables.

The head constable holds the charge of a police station in the sub-inspector's absence and looks to all the routine work including investigation of crime.

The constables perform such police duties as ordered by the head constables and their superior officers. These include prevention and detection of crime, maintenance of order, apprehension of offenders on warrants, serving of summons, escorting and guarding of prisoners, treasure or private or public property when placed in charge and exercise generally all such powers as are conferred by the Bombay Police Act (XXII of 1961).

The police force mainly consists of two categories, viz., armed and unarmed. The armed force is chiefly allotted the duties of guarding jails and lock-ups and escorting prisoners and treasures. The unarmed section is trained in squad drill, rifle and range practices, dacoit operations, ceremonial drill, etc.

Recruitment

Recruitment to the posts of the assistant superintendents of police is made as follows: 25 per cent of the posts are filled in by the state government by promotion of members of the Maharashtra Police Service, and the remaining are filled in by direct recruitment under the authority of the Union Public Service Commission. On recruitment, the candidates have to undergo training at the Central Police Training College at Mount Abu, and then, they are required to pass a test in police regulations, accounts and other allied subjects.

Recruitment of about 70 per cent of the posts of the deputy superintendents is made partly by nomination and promotion, and the remaining 30 per cent by direct recruitment under the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. Candidates directly recruited are attached to the Police Training College at Nasik in the first year, and are then posted to districts for practical training.

Inspectors of police are generally appointed by promotion from the lower rank. However, power of direct recruitment has been delegated to the Inspector-General of Police (in consultation with the Selection Board).

Posts of the sub-inspectors are filled in by the Inspector-General of Police assisted by a committee both by promotion from lower ranks and by direct recruitment. The selected candidates undergo training at the Police Training College, Nasik.

The police constables are recruited directly and the head constables generally from ranks of the constables. Direct appointments as head constables are also made up to one-third of the vacancies to attract better men.

Strength

The total strength of police officers and men in the district in 1962 was as follows: —

In 1961-62, the expenditure on the police force in the district was Rs. 12,81,625. The ratio of the number of policemen to the area and population in Bhir district came to one policeman to 11.551 km.² (4.46 square miles) and 1,047 persons.

The armament in Bhir district consisted of 133 rifles (.303 bore), 453 muskets (.410 bore), 36 pistol revolvers (3 of 38 bore and 33 of.455 bore) and 6 Thomson machine carbines in 1962. The district police had a fleet of ten motor vehicles in 1962. There are four wireless stations in the district located at Bhir, Ashti, Manjlegaon and Ambejogai.

For prohibition work two police sub-inspectors and 35 head constables and constables are posted in the district. The number of offences reported under the Prohibition Act was 467 in 1960, 400 in 1961. and 527 in 1962.

The following figures show the crimes reported to the Bhir district police during the period 1960—62:—

Serious crime including murders, dacoities, robberies, house-breaking, thefts, rioting, etc., during the period 1959-62, were as follows: —

Prosecuting Staff and Prosecution

There were seven prosecutors in Bhir district in the year 1962 The cases dealt with by these prosecutors numbered 2.755 in the same year.