Indore & Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh to get a Police Commissionerate system

The state of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday announced its decision to move in and implement the Police Commissionerate system in Indore and Bhopal. The structural change is designated to improve the law and order in the two districts, putting robust machinery at the people's disposal. Notably, the move will award magistral powers to the district administration, effectively enhancing the reach and scope of the police.

A new system for effective & robust functioning

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A strategic power realignment, the Police Commissionerate system will help the police to work independently, without the interference of the DM, ADM or SDM. All decisions which were previously taken by these authorities will now directly fall under the jurisdiction of the Police Commissioner and Department, added reports.

As such, now the police will no longer need to take permission from the DM for imposing sections of the NSA, Gangster Act, Goonda Act or other public orders. In all, the move will help police to do their work efficiently, without pending files, applications or pressure of the governance.

Presently, the responsibilities are divided between the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police (SP), leading to a complex administration system. While the DM issued arrest warrants and licences, the authority to direct investigate crimes and arrests are under the care of the SP. Once the new system is imposed, both Indore and Bhopal will have a differentiated and well-defined governance and law enforcement for better administration.

What is the Police Commissionerate system?

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The power shift has been decided upon under the scope of Section 4 of the Indian Police Act (1861). According to this, DM, who is an IAS Ranked Official has the power to control the police. However, when the Police Commissionerate system is implemented, all these powers will be vested into the hands of the Police Commissioner, who is an IPS officer.

In this situation, the Police Commissioner has judicial and magistral powers and the authority to implement orders under the CrPC. This effectively makes the Commissioner the highest-ranked official of the system.