Haryana gets police complaint authority

CHANDIGARH - In a bid to check police laxity, Haryana government has appointed former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer H.S. Rana as the state police complaint authority, an official said here Tuesday.

The complaint authority has been set up under the provisions of the Haryana Police Act, 2007, for a term of three years.

“The authority (Rana) shall devise his own rules for the conduct of his business and for inquiring into allegations of misconduct against police. He can initiate inquiry on his own or on the basis of complaints received from human rights commission and from the victim on a sworn affidavit,” the official said.

“The authority shall inquire into a complaint, only if he is satisfied about the authenticity of the complaint. He may also inquire into any other cases referred to him by the state government or by the state police chief,” he added.

According to the authorities concerned, Rana will have all the powers of a civil court in the cases directly inquired by him.

“Upon the completion of inquiry, the authority will communicate his findings to the state government. Following which, the government shall consider those findings and take appropriate action against the accused police officials,” the official said.

A few months back, the Haryana Police had conducted sting operations at police stations to catch laid-back officials red-handed.