Could a special investigation team and powers for action revive the Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority (KSPCA), which has been reduced to a bureau of referrals?
The authority, which became operational in 2016, was expected to examine complaints of police excesses and harassment. However, it functions more like a call centre that forwards complaints to various districts.
Since 2016, the authority has received 930 complaints. However, nearly all pertain to officers below the rank of Superintendent of Police: meaning, they come under the jurisdiction of the district police complaints authority headed by the Deputy Commissioner, rather than the KSPCA.
Headless authority
The authority lacks a chairperson now. The last one, former High Court judge A.S. Pachchapure, submitted his resignation barely a year into his three-year tenure.
Sources said the process to appoint a new chairperson has run into trouble. Following the resignation of Mr. Pachchapure, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka had recommended three names — all former High Court judges — for the post. One was selected by the State government. However, the retired judge declined the post.
Since then, there has been no chairman and no meeting of the five-member committee, which includes senior police officials and a civil society member, which oversees investigation into high-profile cases or takes up suo motu cases.
Following a Supreme Court order, the KSPCA was formed to investigate ‘serious misconduct’ by police officials, which includes custodial death, assault, attempt to rape, and arrest without following due process.
Currently, cases transferred to the districts rely entirely on the local police, who are deputed by the Superintendent of Police, for investigations. Moreover, the authority’s powers are clipped as it can only recommend action against erring police officials, if found guilty during investigation.
Officials say that police officials have been found guilty in only a small number of the over 930 cases filed.
Proposals
The committee has now sent proposals to strengthen the KSPCA. M.R. Kamble, a retired IAS officer and member of KSPCA, said, “We have sent a proposal for a separate investigation team under the aegis of KSPCA which could independently verify complaints. We have also sought powers to levy fines in minor cases.”
Rajneesh Goel, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), said the selection of another chairman is under way, but declined to share details.
