The Meghalaya government is yet to set up the Police Accountability Commission as mandated under the Meghalaya Police Act 2010.
The Meghalaya Police Act 2010 came into force from the date of the notification issued on February 7, 2011.
As per Section 73 (2) of the Meghalaya Police Act 2010, the State government shall within three months of the coming into effect of the Act establish a State Police Accountability Commission consisting of the chairperson, members and staff to inquire into public complaints against police personnel for any serious misconduct.
Section 74 (1) of the Meghalaya Police Act provides that the Police Accountability Commission shall consist of a chairperson and members with a credibility record of integrity and commitment to human rights. It also said that a chairperson should be appointed from a retired officer of the rank not below the Principal Secretary or a retired police officer not below IGP rank, or a person with a minimum of ten years of experience either as judicial officer, practicing lawyer in the High Court or a professor of law or a retired officer with experience in public administration.
Section 74 (2) of the Meghalaya Police Act provides that the chairperson and members of the Police Accountability Commission shall be appointed by a panel consisting of the Home Minister as chairperson, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and Director General of Police.
Concerned by the delay to set up the Police Accountability Commission, a social worker from Garo Hills, Kingstone Bolwari today wrote to Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home, Prestone Tynsong and demanded immediate steps to establish the commission.
According to Bolwari, due to the absence of the Police Accountability Commission, there is no proper forum for the people to file complaints against police atrocities, harassments and illegal detentions.
Citing Section 54 Chapter 11 of the Act, Bolwari said the Police Accountability Commission was meant to “uphold and enforce the law impartially and to protect the life, liberty, property, human rights and dignity of the member of the public, to create and maintain the feeling of security in the community and as far as possible prevent conflicts and promote amity, etc.”
Bolwari also urged the Home Minister to implement the provision of the Meghalaya Police Act related to the setting up of the Police Accountability Commission “for the interest of the State and for the end of justice as a whole”.
