Bombay High Asks State To File Affidavit On Progress Of Website For Functioning And Procedures Of Police Complaint Authorities

The Bombay High Court today directed the State government to file an affidavit outlining the progress made in developing a website containing relevant information on the functioning and procedures of Police Compliant Authorities in the State.A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre further asked the State to detail the steps taken to create awareness about the functioning of Police Compliant Authorities among the public. The Court was considering an Interlocutory Application that sought directions to the State to bring the Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Act 2014 in conformity with the directions issued by the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors (2006). In this case, the Apex Court had issued a slew of guidelines for systemic police reforms and had directed the State Governments to set up Police Complaints Authorities among other things.The petitioner further sought to direct the State to conduct a pre-legislative consultation with necessary organisations to formulate necessary amendments. The petitioner also prayed that the State should spread awareness about the existence of the Police Complaints Authorities and create a website for maintaining relevant information about their functioning and procedure.In response, the State counsel submitted the State government has already incorporated necessary amendments in the Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Act in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court. The counsel stated that Section 22 p-t have been incorporated with effect from June 2014. It was stated that the Police Complains Authorities have also been constituted at the State, District and Division level. The counsel further stated that she would update the Court about the website during the next hearing. The Court thus asked the State to file an affidavit on the progress of the website and also file a a status respect with respect to functioning and compositions of the Police complaints authorities.The Court kept the matter for further hearing on 26 February. Case title: Firdause S. Irani vs. State Of Maharashtra (IA/505/2021)

Bombay High Asks State To File Affidavit On Progress Of Website For Functioning And Procedures Of Police Complaint Authorities

Sanjana Dadmi

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