Odisha Police Bill to be reintroduced in Assembly

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 25:

The Odisha government will reintroduce the Odisha Police Bill 2013 in the next session of the State Assembly.

The draft Bill, which aims to provide more functional autonomy and power to the police, also proposes minimum security of tenure to police officers in the rank of DGP, IG, SP and officer-in-charge (OIC).

The state government had introduced the Bill in the State Assembly during its winter session this month. However, the Bill could not be taken up as the House could not transact much legislative business due to the protest on the chit fund scam by the Opposition.

Since the Bill had lapsed, the state government decided to reintroduce the Bill in the House again in the State Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday.

The Bill, replacing the Police Act, 1861 and Odisha State Armed Police Act, 1946, aims at streamlining the appointment and transfer process apart from separating criminal investigation from law and order.

As per the draft Bill, the state would be divided into several police ranges. Each police range will have two police districts while each district will be divided into police sub-divisions.

Separate criminal investigation organisations will be formed at state, district and urban police station levels.

Besides, the Bill also proposes creation of Armed Police Units for each police district and formation of state level Armed Police Reserve and creation of a Police Establishment Board with DGP as chairperson and three others as members.

Similar boards will be formed at the range level to look after transfers and postings.

This apart, the Bill also proposes establishment of a State Police Security Commission to deal with political pressure.