TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Coming down heavily on the conduct of Goa police for shirking their responsibilities in violation of CrPC rules, the Goa State Police Complaints Authority (GSPCA) has questioned if Police in Goa think they are above the law and the Supreme Court.
GSPCA headed by Justice (retired) R M S Khandeparkar has also asked State government to roll up its sleeves and put the police department in order. “It is unfortunate even after such a long period, the police department in Goa has not been able to inculcate the required discipline amongst its members and time and again similar irregularities and illegalities are been committed,” GSPCA stated.
The State police department has been castigated by GSPCA in a matter related to NRI Cipriano Fernandes custodial death in 2011, wherein Police Inspector Vishwesh Karpe, then attached to Agassaim police station had refused to file FIR in the case on the directions of Directorate of Prosecution (DoP) or superior officers.
“No police officer under the shelter of legally unsustainable advise by superior officers can shirk his responsibility codified and mandated under section 154 of CrPC,” the order, in which Karpe was declared guilty, stated.
“The Supreme Court ruling in this regard are also clear that no police authority is empowered to opine or advice contrary to the said statutory provisions,” it added. GSPCA has said that the advice or directions by the higher authorities or DoP contrary to the statutory provisions and the rulings of Apex Court actually warrant disciplinary action against the higher authority.
The act of DoP has raised eyebrows, with GSPCA raising question mark over their knowledge of section 154 of CrPC. “Do the police in Goa think themselves to be above the law and the Supreme Court,” it questioned.
Meanwhile, GSPCA Chairman Justice (retd) R M S Khandeparkar Thursday claimed that very few people complain against the police in Goa although the investigations in many cases warrant strict punishment of the officers, who shirk their responsibilities.
GSPCA is currently prosecuting 44 cases, involving officers of all ranks right up to Superintendent of Police to constables. The retd Justice said that the response from the people is poor considering the number of crimes taking place in the State and the manner in which investigations are being conducted.
“I am not seeing the number of cases filed with the authority which are increasing although I learn through the newspapers about acts of the police indicating that they are not doing their job properly,” he observed.
