LAW, ORDER AND JUSTICE

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE POLICE are the prevention and the 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 of traffic, censor-ship of plays and other performances, service of summonses, and warrants in criminal cases, destruction of stray dogs, inspection of explosives and poison shops and extinguishing tires. Apart from these which are imposed upon them by law, other (miscellaneous) duties which fall upon Police Department, such as giving aid to displaced persons and pilgrims, verification of character, passports and naturalisation inquiries, etc., are entrusted to them for administrative reasons.

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 powers under Section 6 of the Act. the State Government appoints the Inspector-General of Police for the direction and supervision of the Police Force. The Inspector-General of Police in the State of Maharashtra is thus the head of the police force and his headquarters is at Bombay. It is the province of the Inspector-General to watch over the recruitment, education, housing and equipment of the police force and to regulate the internal organization and method of working. He is assisted in his office by two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (Officers of the rank of District Superintendent of Police).

For the purpose of administration, Maharashtra State has been divided into four Police ranges, besides Greater Bombay. These four ranges correspond with the four divisions for which Divisional Officers have been appointed. In Greater Bombay, the Commissioner of Police, who is second in the hierarchy, is in charge of the City Police Force. The State Criminal Investigation Department (C. I. D.) is under the control of an officer of the rank of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police. Similarly the State Reserve Police Force Groups and Police Training Schools are in charge of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Head-quarters. Each range in the State which is in charge of a Deputy Inspector-General is divided into districts, each corresponding with the revenue district, and is in charge of a District Superintendent of Police. Under Section 17 (1) of the Bombay Police Act, the District Magistrate has control over District Superintendent of Police and the Police Force of a district. He also decides the questions of policy and of the administration of law within the district; but he does not interfere in the questions of recruitment, internal economy or organisation of the district force which is the province of the Inspector-General of Police.

The District 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 con-tented and to ensure by constant supervision that the prevention, investigation and detection of crime in his district are properly and efficiently dealt with by the Force.

The Sub-Divisional Police Officers in charge of Sub-Divisions, who may be either Assistant Superintendents or Deputy Superintendents, are responsible for all crime work in their charges. Under the general orders of the Superintendent, they are responsible for the efficiency and discipline of the officers and men in their divisions and have to hold detailed inspections of police stations and outposts in their charges at regular intervals.

The Inspectors are practically entirely employed on crime work and supervision of bad characters and gangs in their sub-divisions. They are also utilised for supervising and co-ordinating the crime work of the different police stations in their sub-divisions.

The Sub-Inspector of Police is the officer-in-charge of the police station. He is responsible in his charge for the prevention and detection of crime, and for seeing that the orders of his superiors are carried out and the discipline of the police under him is properly maintained.

Head constables are subject to the orders of the Sub-Inspectors placed over them and of the superior officers of the police force. They are to report to the Sub-Inspector all crimes in their beats and also to assist him in the investigation and detection of crime. When in charge of a particular post or circle of villages, the head constable acts in all police matters in concern with the heads of the village police. When attached to the police station, he holds the charge in the absence of the Sub-Inspector and looks to all routine work including investigation of crime.

The constables perform such duties as they may be ordered by the head constables and superior police officers to perform.

The Kolaba district is divided into two Sub-Divisions-Northern and Southern Sub-Divisions. The charge of the former Sub-Division is being held by the District Superintendent of Police while that of the latter Sub-Division is held by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer. In addition to the Police Headquarters, there are in all 15 Police Stations and 20 Outposts in the district. Out of the 15 Police Stations, 5 are Mahal Police Stations, 9 Taluka Police Stations and one Police Station for Matheran which is a Hill Station.

Strength.

The original strength of the District Police Force which was 830 in 1948 rose to 1,133 by 1957. In 1958, the composition of the force comprising 26 officers and 864 men was as follows:―

The following temporary staff was sanctioned for various extra duties for the period ending 31-12-1958:―

The total strength, both permanent and temporary, was 36 officers and 1,137 men.

The expenditure on the establishment in the district for 1958-59 was Rs. 17,76,389. The ratio of the Police to area and population worked out to 1 policeman to 2.31 square miles and 1 policeman to 775 persons.

Recruitment.

Recruitment to the cadre of Assistant Superintendents of Police who belong to the Indian Police Service is made by the Government of India on the recommendations of the Union Public Service Commission. On their appointment to the service they are attached to the Central Police Training College, Mount Abu, for a period of one year and after successful completion of the training they are sent to the States concerned for undergoing further training. In this State, the probationers are attached to district for practical training for five and a half months and at the Police Training School, Nasik, for four and a half months before they are appointed to hold independent charges of Sub-Divisional Police Officers. An Assistant Superintendent of Police is considered eligible for promotion to a senior post in the Indian Police Service cadre after completion of four years' service from the date of joining.

Of the total number of appointments of Police on the sanctioned cadre of Deputy Superintendents of Police 70 per cent are filled in by promotion from the lower ranks of the District Police Force and remaining 30 per cent by direct recruitment which is made by the Stare Government from candidates recommended by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. Candidates appointed by direct recruitment are attached to the Police Training School, Nasik, for training and are kept on probation for a period of three years. During the first two years of their probationary period, they are required to pass departmental examination pre-scribed by Government. After passing the prescribed examination, while at the Police Training School, they are required to undergo practical training in districts for a period of one year. They are considered for promotion to Indian Police Service cadre after they put in eight years' service as Deputy Superintendents of Police.

Appointments of Inspectors of Police are made by Inspector-General of Police from amongst the Sub-Inspectors of Police who ore found fit for promotion. 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, 50 per cent of the vacancies being filled in by direct recruitment. Of the remaining 50 per cent, 25 per cent of vacancies are filled in by depart-mental candidates passing the Police Sub-Inspector's Course at the Central Police Training School, 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 School, Nasik, as Police Sub-Inspectors. The selection is made by the Inspector-General of Police assisted by a Committee of the Commissioner of Police, Bombay, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police and the Principal, Central Police Training School, Nasik.

The Police Constables are recruited directly and the Head Con-stables generally from the ranks of Constables. However, to attract better men, recruitment of Head Constables is made direct from qualified candidates up to one-third of the vacancies.

Literacy.

All the officers and men in the Police Force of the Kolaba district, possessed the necessary educational qualifications.

Armament.

The armament of the Kolaba District Police Force in 1958 consisted of five carbine machine guns, 557 rifles (.303 bore), 506 muskets of.410 bore and 55 revolvers. In addition to this, the Home Guards of the District were allotted 115 rifles of.303 bore, 20 revolvers of.455 bore and 40 muskets of.410 bore. Five rifles of.22 bore are also kept for training any member of the public who joins as a member of Rifle Club.

The district has (1958) a fleet of fifteen Motor Vehicles including three vehicles allotted for prohibition work.

Out of the 597 armed men, 560 men have been armed with.410 muskets and a squad of 22 men was trained with carbine machineguns. Fifteen men were trained in the use of the tear gas.

The wireless grid had a static wireless station with two receivers and two transmitters.

In addition to the above, there are eight taluka Wireless Stations in the district at Alibag, Mahad, Murud, Panvel, Uran, Shriwardhan, Nagothana and Motor Launch 'Shakti', with the Control Station at Alibag.

These stations work on radio telephone system.

In addition to one Head Wireless Operator and two Wireless Operators, one post of Radio Mechanic is sanctioned for this district for looking to the maintenance of the Wireless Station.

State Reserve Constabulary.

With a view to providing the armed force which may be required at any place in the State to deal with any disturbance or emergency, the State Reserve Police trained more or less on military lines and equipped with modern weapons has been organised and stationed in groups at important centres in the State each group being under the control of a Commandant of the rank of Superintendent of Police assisted by the necessary staff of officers of different ranks. The groups are provided with wireless sets and transport.

Figures of Crime.

In 1958, the following were the figures of crime in the Kolaba district:―

The following figures represented the variations in crime during the quinquennium 1954―58:―

Real serious crime, including (1) murders and cognate crime. (2) dacoities, (3) robberies, (4) house-breaking and thefts, (5) thefts, including cattle thefts, (6) receiving stolen property and (7) rioting varied as follows from 1949 to 1958:―

Incidence of cognizable crime per thousand persons varied as follows during the years (1949-58):―

In 1958 the prosecuting staff in the district consisted of one Senior Police Prosecutor and seven Police Prosecutors. The total number of cases conducted by the prosecution staff in 1958 was 3,044, out of which 1,027 ended in conviction.

Prosecuting Staff and Prosecutions.

In the Anti-Corruption Branch, in 1958, there were in all 13 Corruption Trap Cases. The disposal of the cases was as follows:―

Out of 13 cases, only three cases pertained to the Police Department.

Housing.

Of the total strength of 1,103 policemen (permanent and temporary), 583 were housed in Government quarters. Of the 27 Sub-Inspectors, nine Sub-Inspectors and one Inspector were provided with Government quarters.

Hospital.

A Clinic has been started at police headquarters, for the benefit of the children and families of the Policemen. The official of the Civil Hospital, Alibag, visits the Police Lines and the clinic twice a week. Necessary medical aid such as medicines, injections, etc., for deserving cases is also provided on the recommendations of the doctor.

Welfare Work.

The department provides for children's park, poultry farm, carpentry squad, sewing class, vegetable garden, barber's shop, milk centre, literacy class, water storage tank and reading room at the police headquarters at Alibag and also supplies radio sets at some of the police stations.

Village Police.

The District Police is helped by the Village Police. The total number of Police Patils and other village servants was 2,135 and 2,090 respectively during 1958. The total cost incurred on this account was Rs. 1,98,582.28.

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 District Superintendent of Police. There are 1,965 villages in the district. Each village or a group of villages has a Police Patil. The Police Patil is required to collect information regarding suspicious strangers and send it to the Police station. He has to keep a strict watch over the movements of bad characters under surveillance of the Police. He is to give information to the police station of any offence committed in the village. When the patrolling policeman goes to the village, he has to give the information he possesses about all events in the village. It is the duty of the village Police Patil to render assistance to any sick traveller and maintain law and order in the village.

Home Guards.

The Home Guards is a voluntary body organised under the Bombay Home Guards Act, III of 1947, and is intended to supplement. the ordinary police force 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 any military organisation. The District Unit of the Home Guards Organisation consists of a Commandant and several subordinate Officers in command of divisions, companies, platoons, sections, etc. Appointments of Home Guards are made by the District Commandant from amongst the 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 on consideration of the capabilities of the Home Guards concerned. Home Guards receive initial training in subjects like lathi training, weapon training, traffic control, prohibition and excise laws, first-aid, mob fighting, guard and escort drill, etc. A Home Guard gets powers, privileges and obligations of a Home Guard under the Home Guards Act and Rules made thereunder only when called out for duty under the orders of the District Superintendent of Police. 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 duty allowance of not less than Rs. 2 and of not more than Rs. 3 per day, as deter-mined by the Commandant.

The Kolaba Home Guards Unit was started on April 9, 1948. The organisation in the district consists of a District Command-ant, Second-in-Command, Quarter Master, Staff Officer, Prohibition Staff Officer, Publicity Staff Officer, "Training" I, II and Staff Officer. "Administration". Home Guards centres have been opened at Alibag, Pen, Panvel, Uran, Karjar, Pali, Roha, Mangaon, Mahad and Murud in the district, each under the command of Officer Commanding, Home Guards Taluka Unit. Besides this, there is also one Women Home Guards Unit at Alibag. The total strength of the Home Guards in the district was 443 in 1960.

Kolaba Home Guards have been helping the Police in maintaining order on occasions such as fairs, festivals, processions, elections, etc. A good number of prohibition cases have been detected with the assistance of Kolaba Home Guards. Kolaba Home Guards also take active part in various social services.

Apart from the useful service the organisation is rendering to the district, it also does a great deal for its members. It has inculcated in them a sense of discipline and responsibility. The training camps teach them to live with one another and develop team spirit apart from keeping the men physically fit. Number of District Training Camps of the duration of seven days and one day's Refresher Training Camps have been held for imparting varied training to the members of the Home Guards.

Village Defence Parties.

With a view to provide an opportunity to villagers to cultivate among themselves and also towards their villages a sense of civic duty, an organisation known as "Village Defence Party" has been formed in the districts of the Old Bombay State. These village defence parties are very useful for the defence of villages against depredations of dacoits and other types of criminals. It is a body of public-spirited and able-bodied villagers between the age of 20 and 50, who voluntarily enroll themselves as members of the party.

For each district there is a police officer of the rank of a Sub-Inspector for the supervision of the Village Defence Parties in the district and is designated as the Village Defence Officer. In this district Police Sub-Inspector, Pen, has been appointed as Village Defence Officer, for the district in addition to his own duties. He-is assisted by a Joint Village Defence Officer who is a citizen willing to work in an honorary capacity under the Village Defence Officer. There is one Joint Assistant Village Defence Officer selected from the public for each of the following talukas: -

(1) Alibag, (2) Pen, (3) Panvel, (4) Karjat, (5) Khalapur, (6) Mangaon, (7) Roha, (8) Mahad and (9) Poladpur.

There is no Assistant Village Defence Officer of the rank of a Head Constable. The Assistant Joint Village Defence Officers work under the supervision of the respective Police Sub-Inspectors of the respective police stations. Under these Taluka Officers, there is a Kotwal for each village organisation. The Kotwal is a resident of the village appointed by the District Superintendent of Police on the recommendations of the Assistant Village Defence Officer. The Kotwal is in charge of the village defence party, the men in the party being recommended by the Kotwal and other Officer in order to become eligible for joining it. Joint Village Defence Officer and Joint Assistant Village Defence Officers get permanent travelling allowance at Rs. 35 per month and Rs. 22.75 per month respectively.

The whole defence organisation in the district is subordinate to the District Superintendent of Police who in turn is under the control of the District Magistrate.

In order to create confidence among the members of the Village Defence Parties a few selected villagers are given arms licences and these men 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 handle firearms in a serious emergency. The District Superintendent of Police arranges to train in musketry, a few men selected by the Village Defence Officer from each village defence party. Each man selected is expected to fire ten rounds of ammunition in the first year and five rounds every subsequent year.

The Village Defence Parties are intended merely for self-defence and do not possess any of the powers of Police Officers. Every act which the members of such parties may perform must be such as may be justified by the principles of the right of private defence of person and property as laid down in the Indian Penal Code. No act, therefore, of a member of Village Defence Party which is not justified by that right is condoned merely because of such person being a member of a village defence party, organised or working under the supervision of the Police.

Up to the end of 1958, village defence parties were formed in 1,272 villages of the district and they had a strength of 37,884.

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