Now, graduate constables to probe cases, challan vehicles

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 20

In a historic decision which will go a long way in boosting the morale of police force, the Himachal government has bestowed powers to investigate criminal cases and also challan vehicles on constables possessing graduation degree.

Hitherto, the power to investigate cases was exercised only by police officers of the rank of Head Constables or above. The proposal which was in the pipeline for quite some time was approved by the Cabinet at its meeting yesterday.

Himachal has become the second state after Orissa to give investigation powers to constables. However, the graduate constable would investigate only those cases wherein maximum punishment was three years imprisonment and the powers would be limited to constables positioned at police stations.

The decision was likely to enthuse eligible constables and enhance their image in public eyes besides motivating other constables to improve their qualifications and attain graduation degree, said Director General of Police (DGP) SR Mardi.

At present there were about 10,000 constables in the police force who are graduates. The decision will ensure better and optimal utilisation of manpower 

and speedier investigations, he said adding that constables were ambassador of the government on the streets and empowering them would imply better service to citizens.

The decision would help in reducing pendency of cases and ensure better use of manpower as policemen could concentrate more on other aspects of policing like maintaining law and order and traffic.Sources in the police department said that amendment is being sought to allow graduate constables to investigate cases under Excise Act. At present, only head constables could investigate such matters.

The age for recruitment in police force was 18 years and normally class X and XII pass students appeared in the tests but after the age was increased to 23, a large number of applicants with graduation and master degree are joining the force.

Last year, as many as 512 Head Constables who completed 32 years of service were promoted as honorary Assistant police Inspectors (ASI). Only those eligible Head Constables, who have not faced any penal action, departmental enquiry or adverse remarks in ACR for preceding five years were considered for their deputation as ASIs. The move had infused energy in the police force.