Police Complaint Authority yet to start functioning

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

The UT Police Complaint Authority (PCA) is yet to start functioning. Reason: The PCA office at the ground floor of the UT Secretariat building in Sector 9 is being renovated. The UT Administration had reconstituted the authority in February this year.

Notably, the PCA has been lying non-functional for over 21 months after the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed the appointment of Pradip Mehra, former UT Adviser, as the Chairman of the authority in July 2015, terming his appointment against the rules. The Administration had appointed Mehra on November 8, 2013.

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore had approved the name of Justice Mahavir Singh Chauhan as the Chairman of the authority in February this while former Rajasthan DGP AS Gill has been appointed a member of the authority.

Sources said as soon as the office was ready, the authority would start functioning. “The PCA is expected to start functioning from the next month,” the sources said.

They said a large number of people had sent complaints against the police in the past 21 months. The last session of the PCA was held on August 28, 2015.

The PCA can enquire into allegations of serious misconduct against police personnel. The authority may, after completion of the inquiry, communicate its findings to the officer heading the police force in Chandigarh with a direction to register an FIR or initiate departmental action if found guilty.

Website yet to be updated

The website of the UT Administration is yet to be updated and it displays names of former PCA Chairman and members. The website still displays Justice (retd) NK Aggarwal as the PCA Chairman.