LAW, ORDER AND JUSTICE

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Functions.

The primary functions of the police arc the prevention and detection of crime, the maintenance of law and order, the apprehension of offenders, escorting and guarding of prisoners, treasure or private or public property of which they may be placed in charge, and the prosecution of criminals. They have, however, various other duties to perform, such as control and regulation of traffic, service of summonses and warrants in criminal cases, inspection of explosive and poison shops and extinguishing fires and others such as giving aid to displaced persons and pilgrims, verification of character, passports and naturalisation inquiries, etc.

Organisation.

Under section 4 of the Bombay Police Act (XXII of 1951), the superintendence of the police force throughout the State vests in and is exercisable by the State Government. In exercise of the powers conferred upon it by section 6 of the said Act, the State Government appoints the Inspector-General of Police for the direction and supervision of the police force. The Inspector-General of Police, whose headquarters is at Bombay is thus the head of the police force in the State. It is the province of the Inspector-General to watch over the recruitment, education, housing and equipment of the police force, to regulate the internal organisation and method of its working and to look after its welfare. He is assisted in his office by three Assistant Inspectors General of Police (who are officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police) and the Superintendent of Police, State Traffic Branch who is ex-officio Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

For the purpose of administration, Maharashtra State is divided into four Police Ranges, besides three Commissionerates, viz. Greater Bombay. Poona and Nagpur. In Greater Bombay, the Commissioner of Police, who is second in the Police hierarchy is in charge of the Greater Bombay Police force. The Commissioners of Police in charge of the Nagpur and Poona Commissionerates are of the tank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police. The State Criminal Investigation Department is divided into two branches, viz. (i) Intelligence, (ii) Crime and Railways, each under a Deputy Inspector-General. ' Both the Deputy Inspectors General are assisted by one or more assistants of the rank of Superintendent of Police and a number of Deputy Superintendents of Police, Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors and Head Constables. There are Criminal Investigation Department units at important places in the State, each under a Deputy Superintendent of Police assisted by the necessary subordinate stall. The State Reserve Police Force Groups are under the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Armed Forces. The Police Training College, Nasik; the Regional Police Training Schools at Khandala, Jalna and Nagpur; the Motor Transport and Wireless Organisations are under the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Training and Special Units, Bombay.

Each Range in the State which is in the charge of a Range Deputy Inspector-General is divided into districts, each corresponding to the revenue district, and is in the charge of a Superintendent of Police. Under section 17(1) of the Bombay Police Act, the District Magistrate has control over the Superintendent of Police and the Police Force of a district in matters of policy and administration of law within the district, but he does not interfere with the questions of recruitment, internal economy or organisation of the district police force.

The Superintendent of Police is the executive head of the police force in the district. His primary duties are to keep the force under his control properly trained, efficient and contented and to ensure, by constant supervision, the proper and effective prevention, investigation and detection of crime in his district.

Each district is divided into two or three sub-divisions. Each sub-division is in the charge of a Sub-Divisional Police Officer, who is of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police or Deputy Superintendent of Police and is responsible for the prevention, investigation and detection of crime in his charge. Subject to the general orders of the Superintendent, he is responsible for the efficiency and discipline of the officers and men in his division. He has to hold detailed inspections of police stations and out-posts in his charge at regular intervals.

Each sub-division has one or more Circle Police Inspectors who are entrusted with detection of crime and supervision of had characters and gangs in their circles. The supervision and co-ordination of the detection work of the different police stations in the circles is also entrusted to the Circle Inspectors.

At the district headquarters, the Superintendent of Police is assisted by an Inspector who is called the Home Inspector. He is in the nature of a Personal Assistant to the Superintendent of Police and supervises the work of the Superintendent's office at the headquarters during the absence of the Superintendent of Police and the. Sub-Divisional Officer. In the bigger districts there are Inspectors in charge of Local Intelligence Branches (District Special Branches) and Local Crime Branches.

Each district is divided into a number of police stations. A Sub-Inspector of Police is in charge of a police station. He is responsible for the prevention, investigation and detection of crime in his charge and has to see that the orders of his superiors are carried out and the discipline of the police under him is properly maintained. He has under him the required number of Head Constables and Constables. The Head Constables report to the Sub-Inspector all crimes in their beats and assist him in the investigation and detection of crime. When in charge of a particular post or circle of villages, the Head Constables act in all police matters in co-operation with the heads of the village police. When attached to a Police Station, some of them hold the charge in the absence of the Sub-Inspector and attend to all routine work including investigation of crime. The Constables perform such duties as may be entrusted to them by the Sub-Inspector and the Head Constables.

The control and administration of the Railway Police is vested in the Superintendent of Police who has a parallel organisation on the lines of district police. He functions under the supervision and control of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Crime and Railways, Criminal Investigation Department, Maharashtra State, Poona and the Inspector-General of Police.

Anti-Corruption and Prohibition Intelligence Bureau.

With a view to eradicating the evil of corruption and for a more effective implementation of the prohibition policy of Government, the Anti-Corruption and Prohibition Intelligence Bureau has been created under the control of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, designated as Director, Anti-Corruption and Prohibition Intelligence Bureau, Maharashtra State with his headquarters at Bombay. The Bureau has its offices in all districts and has four units with headquarters at Bombay, Poona, Aurangabad and Nagpur, each in charge of a Deputy Superintendent of Police. The unit for Greater Bombay is in charge of a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

State Reserve Police Force.

With a view to providing the Armed Forces which may be required at any place in the State to deal with any serious disturbance or other similar emergency, the State Reserve Police Force, trained more or less on military lines and equipped with modern weapons, has been organised under the Bombay State Reserve Police Force Act, 1951 (Bombay Act No. XXXVIII of 1951), and stationed in groups at important centres in the State. Each group is under the control of a Commandant (who is an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police) assisted by the necessary staff of officers of different ranks. The groups are provided with wireless and motor transport sections. The training institutions at different places have been described below.

Training Institutions.

(i) The Police Training College, Nasik, provides the initial training for officers of and above the rank of Sub-Inspector and for the refresher training of qualified Head Constables in the duties of Police Sub-Inspector. It is in the charge of a Principal, who is of the rank of Superintendent of Police. He is assisted by a Deputy Superintendent of Police designated as Vice-Principal and by Police Inspectors, Police Prosecutors. Sub-Inspectors and Head Constables who are employed as Instructors.

(ii) Regional Police Training Schools, Khandala, Jalna and Nagpur provide training for un-armed Constables for the police force and are in the charge of Principals, who are of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. The principals are assisted by the necessary staff of Inspectors, Police Prosecutors, etc.

(iii) Recruits of the Greater Bombay Police are trained at the Police Training School, Naigaum, which is headed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

Women Police Branch.

Women Police branches exist in Greater Bombay, Poona and Nagpur cities and in some important districts, including Railway Police districts. The main functions of this branch are to help in the recovery of abducted women, to attend to the convenience and complaints of female passengers at important railway stations, to apprehend and search female offenders, to help in the administration of the Bombay Children Act and the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, to man the Police telephone exchanges. So keep vigilance at places of worship or public entertainment, etc. They also help the senior police officers at the time of holding inquests on dead bodies of women, whenever required.

Arms Inspection Branch.

There is an arms inspection branch consisting of an Inspector of Police and the necessary subordinate staff to undertake periodical inspection of the police arms and to ensure their proper maintenance. The branch is under the control of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Armed Forces.

Motor Transport.

A motor transport section for the whole State under the control of a Superintendent of Police, designated as Superintendent of Police, Motor Transport is organised for maintaining a Heat of motor vehicles and water craft for police duties. It consists of (i) a District Motor Transport section at the headquarters of each district and each State Reserve Police Force group, (ii) the Central Motor Transport Workshop together with mobile units at Poona, Aurangabad and Nagpur and (iii) the Mobile Repair Unit for Police Water Craft with headquarters at Thana. The District and State Reserve Police Force, Motor Transport sections which consist of motor vehicles and in some districts water craft are under the administrative control of the Superintendents of Police of the districts or the Commandants of the Groups as the case may be and under the technical supervision of the Superintendent of Police. Motor Transport.

A wireless grid for the whole State under the control of a Superintendent of Police, designated as the Superintendent of Police, Wireless is organised for facilitating quick communication amongst the police units in the State and also with those in other States. The grid consists of W. T. (Wireless Telegraphy Circuits) of H. F. (High Frequency) and R. T. (Radio Telephony Circuits) of V. H. F. (Very High Frequency) net work with static and mobile transportable stations and broadcast service stations. There are wireless stations at the headquarters of each district/State Reserve Police Force Units and in the three Commissionerates of Greater Bombay, Poona and Nagpur cities. The wireless personnel in Bombay, and those attached to the districts and State Reserve Police Force Groups are under the administrative control of the Commissioners of Police, Superintendents of Police and the Commandants of the State Reserve Police Force Groups concerned, respectively.

The Dhulia district which has its headquarters at Dhulia is divided into two sub-divisions-Dhulia division and Nandurbar division, with headquarters at Dhulia and Nandurbar respectively, each in charge of a Sub-Divisional Police Officer. There are 17 regular police stations, 26 out-posts and two road patrolling stations. Out of these 17 police stations, two are town police stations, viz. Dhulia city and Nandurbar town, nine taluka police stations, one mahal police station and five other police stations. The Armed Police headquarters at Dhulia includes an Inspector-General's reserve consisting of 216 policemen.

Strength.

The strength of the district police was 45 officers and 1,315 men in 1962. It was raised to 46 officers and 1,343 men in 1963. In 1963, the composition of the force was as follows:-

The total strength of the police force, both permanent and temporary was 46 officers and 1,343 men at the end of the year 1963 and 46 officers and 1,355 men during the year 1971-72.

Expenditure.

The expenditure on the establishment of the district for the year 1963 was Rs. 23,04,002. The ratio of the police to area and population came to one policeman to 9.08 km² and 975 persons.

Recruitment.

Recruitment to the cadre of Assistant Superintendent of Police, who belongs to the Indian Police Service, is made by the Government of India on the recommendation of the Union Public Service Commission. On their appointment, they are attached to the National Police Academy, Abu for training for a period of one year and after successful completion of the training they are sent to the States concerned for further training. On arrival in the State, the I.P.S. probationers are attached to the Police Training College, Nasik, for three months and in districts for practical training for nine months before they are appointed to hold independent charges as Sub-Divisional Police Officers. Assistant Superintendents of Police are considered eligible for promotion to a senior post in the Indian Police Service cadre after their confirmation in the I.P.S. in vacancies in the direct recruitment quota.

Seventy per cent, of the total number of appointments on the sanctioned cadre of Deputy Superintendents of Police are filled in by promotion from the lower ranks of the district police force and the remaining 30 per cent. by direct recruitment which is made by the State Government from candidates recommended by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. Candidates appointed by direct recruitment are attached to the Police Training College, Nasik, for training and are kept on probation for a period of two years and three months. During the first two years of their probationary period, they are required to pass departmental examinations prescribed by Government.

After a year's training at the Polite Training College they are required to undergo military training for 5 weeks and thereafter practical training in districts for the remaining period of probation. They are considered for promotion to Indian Police Service cadre after they put in eight years service as Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Appointment of Inspectors of Police are made by the Inspector-General of Police from amongst the Sub-Inspectors of Police who are found fit for promotion by the Selection Board comprising of the I. G. P. as the Chairman and Commissioner of Police/Deputy Inspectors-General of Police as members. No direct recruitment is ordinarily made.

Recruitment of Sub-Inspectors is made by the Inspector-General of Police both by promotion of officers from the lower ranks of the district police force and by direct recruitment. Fifty per cent. of the vacancies are filled in by direct recruitment. Of the remaining 50 per cent., 25 per cent. of the vacancies are filled in by departmental candidates passing through the Police Sub-Inspectors Course at the Central Police Training College, Nasik and the remaining 25 per cent, by promotion of officers from lower ranks.

Candidates for direct recruitment may be either from outside the police or from the Police department. These candidates are in the first instance, selected for training in the Police Training College, Nasik, as Police Sub-Inspectors. The selection is made by the Inspector-General of Police, assisted by a committee consisting of the Commisioner of Police, Bombay, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police and the Principal, Police Training College, Nasik. The Police Constables are recruited directly, and the Head Constables, generally from the rank of Constables. However, to attract better men, recruitment of Head Constables is made direct from qualified candidates upto one-third of the vacancies.

Literacy.

Among the actual strength of 46 officers and 1,343 men of the Dhulia district at the close of the year 1963, none was illiterate.

Armament.

The armament of the district police in 1963 consisted of 5 carbine machine guns, 461 rifles of.303 bore, 21 rifles of EY (Italian rifles), 616 muskets of.410 bore, 36 revolvers of.455 bore, 22 revolvers of 38 bore for the use of police and 5 rifles of.22 bore for imparting teaming to the public in rifle shootings. Besides these arms, there-were 149 muskets of.410 bore and 24 revolvers of.455 bore for use. of the Home Guards.

An Emergency Company of 48 (8 Head Constables and 40 Constables) armed men is maintained and given practice with the rifles of.303 bore. Some Head Constables are also trained in the working of carbine machine guns. A Tear Smoke Squad of 5 Head Constables and 25 Constables is formed for the district.

The District had a fleet of 12 motor vehicles in 1963.

In 1963, the district had a static wireless station with full equipment and one R. T. Control Station with two taluka stations at Nandurbar and Thalner. Each station is provided with the required equipment.

Crime.

The following statement shows the crime reported to the Dhulia police during the year 1963 and the preceding four years: -

The important crime reported during the year 1963 and the preceding four years was as under: -

The incidence of the reported cognizable crime per thousand population of the district during the year 1963 and the preceding four years was as under: -

Prosecuting Staff and Prosecutions.

In 1963, there were 9 Police Prosecutors of whom one was appointed as Senior Police Prosecutor in the district. The total number of cases conducted by the Prosecutors in 1963 was 1,072. The prosecuting Jamadars conduct minor cases.

Police Welfare.

Officers of and below the rank of Police Inspectors are entitled to rent-free quarters. In 1963, out of 46 officers and 1,343 men, 27 officers and 1,001 men were housed in Government quarters. The remaining officers and men lived in private buildings on hire.

The district police have its own welfare fund. The fund is financed by subscription from the members of the Police department of the district except the clerks, whose monthly emoluments are below Rs. 150 and class IV servants. Special performances of shows etc. are also held in aid of the welfare fund. Numerous facilities such as police dispensary, scholarships to school going children and monetary help for purchase of books, poultry farm, tailoring class for women and children park are made available to members of the police force.

There is a Government mess and canteen. A branch of consumers co-operative credit stores has been opened during the year 1963. Besides, there is a co-operative credit society for the district police.

Village Police.

At the village level the district police are helped by the village police. Under the Bombay Village Police Act (VIII of 1867), the control of the village police vests in the District Magistrate. The District Magistrate may, however, delegate any of his authority to the Superintendent of Police. Each inhabited village has a Police Patil. The Police Patil is required to collect information regarding suspicious strangers and important occurrences in the village and send it to the police station. He has to keep a strict watch over the movements of notorious characters under surveillance of the police. He is required to give information to the police station of any offence committed in the village. When a beat duty policeman goes to the village, the Police Patil has to give him all the information he possesses about all events in the village. The Police Patil is also responsible for maintaining law and order in the village.

In 1963, the number of the village police including the Police Patils was 1,328. The village police rendered assistance to the district police in 5 cases in 1963.

Home Guards.

The home guards is a voluntary body organised under the Bombay Home Guards Act (III of 1947), and is intended to augment the ordinary police force in emergency in relation to the protection of persons, security of property and public safety and such other services to the public as they may be called upon to perform. It is essentially a civilian body but is nevertheless bound by discipline of a standard equal to that of the police. The district unit of the home guards organisation is headed by a Commandant who is assisted by several subordinate officers in command of divisions, companies, platoons, sections, etc. Appointments of home guards are made by the District Commandant from amongst persons who are fit and willing to serve as home guards, and appointments of officers are made after a period of service in the ranks and on consideration of the capabilities of the home guards concerned. Home guards are initially trained in lathi, weapons, control of traffic, prohibition and excise laws, first-aid, mob fighting, guard and escort drill, etc. A home guard gets powers, privileges and obligations under the Home Guards Act and the rules made thereunder only when called out for duty on special occasions. At other times, a home guard is on the same footing as an ordinary citizen. When he is called out to aid the police he gets a duty allowance as admissible according to the orders of Government.

The Dhulia Home Guards Organisation was started in October 1947. In 1963, the organisation consisted of a District Commandant. a Second-in-Command, 4 Staff Officers, 9 Units each under an Offices Commanding. 4 Sub-Units each under an Officer-in-charge and 1.675 Home Guards (1,526 Males and 149 Females). The Units were at Dhulia, Nawapur, Nandurbar, Shirpur, Shahada, Sindkheda, Sakri, Taloda, Akkalkuwa and the Sub-Units at Khapar, Dondaicha. Pimpalner and Thalner.

Village Defence Parties.

With a view to providing an opportunity to the villagers to cultivate among themselves and also to cultivate among their villages a sense of civic duty, an organisation known as 'Village Defence party' has been formed in the district. These village defence parties are very useful for the defence of villages against depredations of dacoits and other types of criminals. It is a voluntary organisation of public spirited and able-bodied villagers between the age of 20 and 50 who enrol themselves as members of the parties.

There is a joint Village Defence Officer who is from the public and works in an honorary capacity. There is also a Joint Assistant Village Defence Officer from the public in an honorary capacity for each taluka. Under the taluka officers, there is a Kotwal for each Village Defence Party, who is a villager. The Kotwal is in charge of the Village Defence Party. The Joint Village Defence Officer and the Joint Assistant Village Defence Officer get permanent travelling allowance. The Village Defence Organisation in the District is subordinate to the Superintendent of Police.

In order to encourage the village defence movement, a few selected members are given arms licences and they are expected to arm themselves with such guns as they might be able to procure on their own or with the help of the Superintendent of Police. Members of the village defence parties are trained together at a convenient place with such weapons including sticks, etc. as they possess to defend themselves in the best manner they can under the guidance and leadership of the Kotwals. In order that there should be some men who can handle fire arms in an emergency, the Superintendent of Police arranges to impart training in musketry to a few men of the village defence parties. However, this is only a civilian body of spirited volunteers and they do not enjoy the special privileges enjoyed by the police.

At the close of the year 1963, there were 1,377 village defence parties with 25,782 members of which 517 were gun licensees. Nine dozen whistles were supplied at Government cost. The members use their own arms and ammunition and lathis for night patrolling, etc.

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