Special power Act set to empower revenue police

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 13

The 140-year-old revenue police system is all set to acquire statutory powers under the Special Police Power Act which is being framed by the Department of Revenue.

Not only would the traditional system of policing receive legitimacy through a legal framework, but the system established by the British will also undergo changes keeping in mind the existing set up.

The system was established in the hills due to non-existent crime in the hilly districts.

After Independence, while several laws came into existence, no efforts were made to formalise the revenue police. To this day, barring Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar districts, the revenue police is carrying out revenue duties and additional responsibilities of policing.

These responsibilities are vested with the Patwari, Kanungo and the Lekhpal. “Soon after the creation of the state, the post of Peshkar was merged into the post of naib tehsildar, but as no legal frame-work existed for the revenue police, the exercise remained incomplete. Once the act is framed, the exercise will receive the legal sanctity,” said Yashpal Arya, Uttarakhand Minister for Department of Revenue.

Once the act comes into place, the post of patwari will be equivalent to the post of sub-inspector, the post of Kanungo will be equivalent to the post of Inspector of Police and post of naib tehsildar to the post of the Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The act will also envisage an arrangement where the coordination between the regular police and the revenue police is enhanced by ensuring they have common boards and authorities.

“The police and the revenue police will share common boards and authorities such as the state complainant authority and the state human rights will ensure proper coordination. Though over the years, the absolute areas under the revenue police have reduced, a mechanism would also be put in place to demarcate the areas under the regular and the revenue police,” said a senior officer in the Department of Revenue.

Once the draft of the act is complete, it will be brought before the Cabinet and then in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.