From the data and statistics collected from, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, latest available till 2013, says there are 138 police personnel per lakh of the population in India. This has been substantiated by the Indian Parliament in 2014, that there was shortage of 5.6 lakh police personnel against the sanctioned strength of 22.8 lakh, which clearly takes the figures to 25% vacancy. State police has 24% vacancies in January 2016, as the strength sanctioned is 181 police personnel per lakh people. These statistics serve for two crucial purposes, firstly in questioning the qualitative work function of the police, secondly in analysing the work function of the police, in all the domains. Our Police force, is legally regulated by Police Act, 1861 and Modern Police Act,2015, primarily for executing its functions. But there are certain duties and functions which police is bound to perform in the light of Cr.P.C, which is again in consonance to their primary source of regulation. In this paper, the author has tried to analyse the duties and role of police, primarily pertaining to the Judicial functions, which will also ensure the exhaustive analysis of the checks and control, which serves as the threshold for the police personnel in the exercise of their duty. This paper, is an attempt to link the work function of police, pertaining to the police acts and Cr.P.C by taking into account various factors like modernisation, training prospects, pre-trail functions in a coherent way.
CHAPTER- 1
DUTIES OF POLICE IN THE POLICE ACTS
“ Independent India must choose, whether we will have a people’s police or a ruler appointed police, or in other words whether the people should rule or the parties shall rule. The Constitution has laid down that the people should rule, so the police must also be the people’s police”
– Khosla Commission in 1968
Under our highest organic law of the land, police is kept under the domain to State list, so it is the duty of the state to provide efficient and coherent police force, for proper policing. All the state polices are regulated by Indian Police Act,1861. The duties of the police enshrined under the Act, basically finds itself within the clutches of the test of time, with respect to colonialism vs democracy.
Section 23 of the Indian Police Act, clearly defines the general role and duty of the police officer and section 20 of the act, provides for the restriction which acts as a check and balance on the unfettered discretion of the police when exercising their duty. The changing times, drew great attention of the esteemed law makers of our country and for maintaining and preserving the social order and tranquillity of our state, so a new act was passed, Model Police Act of 2006, which exhaustively discusses the roles and duties of the police, in all the fronts.
The general duties of the police has been incorporated under section 57 of the Model Police Act, 2006, which brings out the general essence and theme of the concept policing, enshrined in our laws. In the present research, it is important to pay much heed to section 57(e), 57(f) and 57(g) of the Model Police Act, which basically deals with the role of Police in the trial procedures. Section 57(e), deals with the dynamic role of the police, which is really necessary for curbing the commissioning of the crimes and any other opportunity associated with such commission of the crime. Section 57(f) deals with the duty of the police, to accurately register all the complaints brought to their notice, by any form, right from in-person representation to the digital media information. In this regard it is pertinent to note, how the Hon’ble Rajasthan High Court, interpreted the idea, on telephonic FIRs, in the case of Tehal Singh v State of Rajasthan, by virtue of which the main essence of section 154 Cr.P.C has been maintained. Section 57(g) of the act, it deals with the duty of the police with regards to registration and investigation of the cognizable offences. This also furnishes, that free copy of the FIR to be given to the complainant. This provision of Cr.P.C is in full consonance with the spirit of section 154(1), 154(2) and section 156(1) of the Cr.P.C. All these changes were brought in the initial police act, in accordance to the guidelines and remarks made by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Prakash Singh v Union of India.
(The essential functions of the police pertaining to the trial, which has been given in the police acts, has been discussed in the next chapter)
CHAPTER-2DUTIES OF THE POLICE UNDER CRPC
1) ARREST AND DETENTION IN THE CUSTODY
For prevention and detection of crimes, a police officer has the power and duty to arrest the accused on the reasonable grounds or reasonable suspicion or with appropriate orders(warrant of arrest). This has been enshrined under section 41 of the Cr.P.C, also the distinct power given to police under section 42 of the act is necessary for the further investigation and trial procedures. In case of the cognisable offence, a police can arrest the alleged culprit, without warrant and can investigate into the case, without any directions from the magistrate. In the case of non-cognizable offence there is an exception to the rule, as enshrined by section 42 of the act. The duties and procedure for the arrest should be made in consonance to section 41-B, 41-C and 41-D. Section 41-D, empowers the arrested to meet the advocate of his choice, during the process of interrogation and in regards to this Supreme Court has given some guidelines for arresting a judicial officer, which are not too exhaustive, in the case of Delhi Judicial Service Assn. v State of Gujarat. Also, section 57 empowers the police for the search of the place, who is sought to be arrested, which is further fabricated by section 51 which gives the police, power to search for the arrested person and if found something police officer can seize them under section 102 for producing it in the court and further under section 52, gives power to seize offensive weapons. According to section 53, it is the duty of the police to get the medical examination of the accused by the medical practitioner and Supreme Court held in the case of State of Bombay v Kathi Kalu Oghad, held that section 53 is not violative of article 20(3). It is further extended by section 54, where the arrested is examined by a registered medical practitioner.
By virtue of section 50(1), it is the duty of the police officer to inform the arrested person, his ground for arrest, which is in true consonance with the article 22(1) of the Constitution, which is a precious right as held in the case of Udaybhan Shuki v State of U.P. By virtue of section 50(2), it is again the duty of the police to inform whether the person arrested has right to bail, if arrested for non-bailable offence. In the case, Joginder Kumar v State of U.P and D. K Basu v State of W.B made it obligatory on the part of the police, to inform the relatives or friends of the arrested person and also to make an entry in a register maintained by the police, this has been incorporated with a view to maintain the dignity of the rights provided under article 21 and 22 of the Constitution. Under section 56 and 76 of the act, it is the duty of the police to take the arrested to the magistrate without any delay, which has been specified and formulated well in the section 57, which provides for the time threshold of 24 hours, with an exception as explained under section 167. The purpose for not detaining the arrested for more than 24 hours has been explained in the case of Mohd. Suleman v King Emperor and the Hon’ble Supreme Court portrayed this provision to keep a check on the healthy investigation by the police, and directed to be observed positively. Apart from this, as per the requirements of section 62, the procedure for the serving of the summons has to be done by a police officer in general, otherwise specified by the Courts. By virtue of section 79, the police officer has the power to arrest outside the jurisdiction, with the warrant of arrest.
2) PRE-TRIAL: INVESTIGATION BY POLICE
After the FIR is lodged, as per the ingredients of section 154, it is the duty of police under 154(1) to register the FIR, as held in the case of Lalita Kumari v Govt. of U.P, pertaining to any cognizable offence and such information must be definite and not vague. Further as per the mandatory provision of the section 154(2), it is the duty of the police to furnish the copy of FIR to the complainant, whose exception has been explained categorically in the case of State v Gnaneswaran. In the case of non-cognizable offences, complying with the provisions of section 155(1), a police officer cannot proceed to investigate without the orders of the magistrate and its non-compliance may be a material cause in vitiating the ultimate proceedings, as well as it may be violative of Article 21. When the police officers gets an order from the magistrate for investigating a non-cognizable offence, the police officers, save as powers to arrest gets the power to arrest as in the case of cognizable offence. The police officer, by virtue of section 156, gets power to investigate the cognizable offences, where under 156(3) a magistrate has the power to order investigation, only at the pre-cognizance stage. The right of the police officer for investigation under section 156 is unfettered and cannot be controlled by Judiciary. Another important procedural aspect is the prompt lodging of the FIR is necessary for recording the spontaneous version of the case, hence it is the duty of the police to do the same. While analysing the section 156, we find the concept of cognizance by magistrate under section 190. The police in complaints sent to them under section 156(3) may make the investigation of the offence and send a report to the Magistrate under section 173. It will deemed to have been taken on the police report not on the original complaint. A magistrate may take cognizance of the offence under section 190, and instead of ordering investigation under section 156(3) can examine the complainant under section 200, and if the magistrate finds the matter fit, can postpone the issue of process against the accused and can either inquire into the case himself, or direct an investigation by the police officer, as to whether there is sufficient ground for proceeding. When police officer receives the complaint under section 202 for investigation and report, he has all the powers which is required for the investigation, similar to his power in case of an offence invoked via section 154. Further by virtue of section 158, the duty of the police officer pertaining to the submission of report, for which the state government appoint the senior police officer for the same.
In case of the cognizable offence, after the lodging of the FIR, the police officer shall proceed to the spot, to investigate and after necessary discovery, may make arrest, as per section 157(1). Moving ahead with the procedural aspect, there is the power of police under section 160(1), to require the attendance of the witness maintaining the conditions specified therein. There is a proviso attached to the section pertaining to person below 15 years or age and person above 65 years of along with woman or a man who is physically disabled. In Queen Empress v Jogindra Nath Mukerjee, it was held magistrate cannot issue any process compelling a person to attend before a police magistrate. Further section 161 and 162 gives the power to the police, for examination of the witness. According to section 161(1), oral examination of the person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case. As per the provision, it is the legal duty of the person to attend the investigating officer, if required, as intentional omission is an offence under section 174 IPC. In Pushma Investment (P) Ltd. v State of Meghalaya, Gauhati High Court has held, police can require witness to attend the police station, if they reside within the limits of the station or the adjoining police station. Section 161(1) lays down certain prescriptions, to be followed pertaining to the rank of the police officer, which must be specified by the State Government, must be duly followed. Analysing the flavour of the section, we can understand that the person, who is being examined must answer all the question correctly, but this would not bound him as such, which can invoke criminal liability against himself. Furthermore, in the case of Gian Singh v State(Delhi Admn.), it was held that police can question the accused even on his right to silence, with due permission of the magistrate, in the judicial custody. While interrogation, if a person furnishes voluntary false information to the police, or gives false evidence can draw penal action under section 193 and 177 of IPC respectively. In this context, Nandini Satpathy v P.L Dani, case is extremely important, which says area covered by section 161(2) and Article 20(3) is substantially the same and the 161(2) of Cr.P.C is a parliamentary gloss on the constitutional clause. The Supreme Court held that, a person is bound to answer where there is no clear tendency to criminate. The concept of “Compelled Testimony” was brought into the picture, and in the case, some guidelines were framed which were to be followed. The most important one was that the accused must be allowed to meet his lawyer, during the interrogation, which was also held in the D.K Basu v State of W.B. In one of the guidelines of the Satpathy’s case, it was held, police has the duty to invariably warn and record the fact, about the right to silence against self-incrimination and after the examination of the accused, the police officer must take him to the magistrate or any responsible person(in case of absence of his lawyer).
Finally, all these guidelines were not binding in nature, but were necessary for bringing out the prudent police policy. The section 161(3) gives wide power to the police to record or not to record any statement during the investigation. Now section 162 and 163, broadly talk about the validity and admissibility of the nature of statements recorded by the police under section 161. Section 162, prohibits signing of any statement obtained by the police, during the course of investigation, supports that it protects the accused from zealous police officers and untruthful witnesses. This provision is time specific and is applicable only during the time of investigation, with an exception to the dying declaration which is admissible under section 32 of the Indian Evidence Act. Therefore, the statements not reduced in writing by the police cannot be used as contradiction, under section 145 of the Evidence Act. The Court cannot rely on the confessions of the accused and case diary statements of the witnesses to come to a conclusion, as statements of witness under section 161 are admissible to the limited extent permitted under section 162(1) proviso and 162(2). Finally, the pivotal provision to test the aforesaid examination comes into picture, section 163, by virtue of which statements cannot be recorded by the police by any kind of pressure or inducement. This section derives its aroma in the presence of section 24 of Indian Evidence Act and 163(1) is not only applicable to the police but to any person in authority. Finally, when the investigation is complete, there are certain procedures to be followed upon. When the evidence is deficient, the accused is to be released by the police, with a bond, with or without security, for the procedure, to be taken after cognizance and during the trial(Section 169). When the evidence is sufficient, the case has to be taken by the police to the magistrate, for the trial and if the offence is bailable he has to be released on bail, with a bail bond with or without securities(Section 170(1)). Secondly, as per provision 170(2), the police officer has to forward any weapon or article, or any security to the magistrate, in order to give evidence for the charge framed against the accused.
On the completion of investigation, a mandatory report is submitted by the Investigating Officer, which is commonly called, ‘Charge-sheet’, and it is given without delay (173(1)). It includes all the necessary details of as prescribed under section 173(2)(i) and submission of this report is a part of the investigation. In this regard it is pertinent to note that, the magistrate under section 156(3) has the power to further direct the investigation even after submission of the report by the police. This means it would not affect the power of the investigating officer to further investigate the case even after the submission of the report. Finally as per the section 174 the police has the power to investigate and report the cases in cases of unnatural and suspicious deaths and under section 175 the police has the power to summon at inquest, in order to investigate the case registered under section 174 and their statements are again governed by the section 162.
CONCLUSION
The role of police, their duties in the light of various police acts and under the Cr.P.C is undoubtedly exhaustive and coherent. The Pre-trial role of the police, right from arrest to the investigation is in full consonance to the spirit of the fair trial, an original form of natural justice. This has been elucidated in the above research, which deals with the role of the police which is to be expected right from arresting a person, by allowing the arrested certain basic human rights is really commendable.
The latent jurisprudence of all these rights clearly furnish that, our highest organic laws of the land, grants us certain Fundamental Rights, which is not jeopardised throughout the pre-trail role performed by the dynamic police. The investigation procedure, requires that magistrate and the judicial bodies are kept informed about the procedures adopted by the police, which keeps a check on the process.
The recording of statements by the police, has been always subjected to the evidence and its value, which again doesn’t give the draconian power to the police authorities, making the whole actions and procedures adopted by them smooth, justifiable and in the interest of the fair trial for the accused. Therefore, from the above discussion and research I am of the view that the role of police, is the pre-trial is exhaustive enough to make the process coherent.
