Chapter IX VILLAGE POLICE

The village Police shall consist of a police patel and such village police officers of such grades as may be prescribed.

The administration of the village police in each district shall, under the general control and direction of the Government be exercised by the District Magistrate.

131. Power to delegate. The District Magistrate may with the sanction of the Government delegate any of his powers under this Chapter to,— (i) the Superintendent; and (ii) any officer of the Revenue Department in the district exercising the powers of a Magistrate. Such officer is hereinafter referred to in this Chapter as “the authorised officer”.

(1) Subject to such rules which may be made by the Government in this behalf, the village police in each village shall be appointed by the District Magistrate and shall be under the charge of such person as the District Magistrate shall appoint in writing as the Police Patel. (2) In any village or place, where the duties cannot be efficiently performed by one police patel, the District Magistrate may appoint one or more additional Police Patels and place them in charge of different divisions into which the village or place may be divided for police purposes. (3) The District Magistrate may also appoint a Police Patel for more than one village.

The Police Patel shall, subject to the orders of the District Magistrate,— (i) act under the orders of the authorised officer and within whose jurisdiction the village is situated; (ii) furnish such authorised officer with any returns or information called for and keep him informed as to the state of crime and all matters connected with the Village Police;

The Police Patel shall have authority to require all village servants, in whatever capacity ordinarily employed, to aid him in performing the duties entrusted to him; and it shall be the duty of the village revenue accountant, whether hereditary or stipendiary, to help the Police Patel in the preparation of returns and proceedings.

135. Precautions against robbery, etc. The Police Patel shall arrange for the distribution of the village police in the village so as to afford utmost possible security against robbery, breach of the peace and acts injurious to the public and to the village community and shall report to the Magistrate or officer in charge of the police station within whose local jurisdiction the village is situated, all instances of misconduct or neglect committed by any member of the village police.

136. Information received regarding commission of cognizable offences. The Police Patel shall convey to the police officer in charge of a police station within whose local jurisdiction the village is situated, immediate report of the information which he may receive respecting the commission within the limits of his village of murders, dacoities, robberies, thefts, mischiefs by fire and other cognizable offence and shall take necessary measures to preserve the evidence and protect properties connected with the offence, pending the arrival of such police officer.

137. Penalties for neglect of duty and punishment. (1) The District Magistrate or the authorised officer may for misconduct, neglect of duty, or for any other sufficient cause, impose on any police patel or member of the village police liable to be called upon for the performance of police duties, any of the following punishments, namely:— (i) fine not exceeding one-fourth of the annual emoluments of his office; (ii) suspension from office for a period not exceeding six months. (2) Subject to the provisions of Article 311 of the Constitution, the District Magistrate may, for misconduct, neglect of duty or other sufficient cause, impose on any Police Patel or member of the village police liable to be called for the performance of police duties the punishment of removal or dismissal from office. (3) Any person aggrieved by an order under sub-section (1) or (2), may within sixty days from the date of receipt of such order, appeal to the prescribed officer and the decision of the prescribed officer on such appeal shall be final.

138. Liability to criminal prosecution not affected. Nothing in the last preceding section shall affect the liability of any Police Patel or other member of the village police to criminal prosecution for any offence with which he may be charged.

If an offence has been committed within the limits of the village and the offender has escaped or is not known, the Police Patel shall forward immediate information to the officer in charge of the police station within whose local jurisdiction the village is situated.

If any unnatural or sudden death occurs or any corpse be found within the limits of the village, the Police Patel shall send immediate written information to the officer in charge of the police station within whose local jurisdiction the village is situated and shall assist such Police Officer in any inquest, inquiry or investigation which may be held in respect of such death.

(1) It shall be lawful for the Police Patel to arrest any person within the limits of his village, who, he may have reason to believe has committed an offence for which a Police Officer may arrest without warrant and to forward such person within twenty-four hours of such arrest, together with all articles likely to be useful as evidence to the officer in charge of the police station within whose local jurisdiction the village is situated. (2) The Police Patel shall have authority in carrying out any pursuit of alleged criminals to enter and act within the limits of other villages, provided that in such cases immediate information shall be sent to the Police Patel of the village so entered who shall afford all assistance in his power to continue the pursuit.

It shall be lawful for the Police Patel to take charge of all unclaimed property found within the village limits or made over to him under the provisions of this Act. He shall forthwith make a report to the District Magistrate or the authorised officer and act thereafter as he may be directed by the said Magistrate, or officer.

When the Police Patel is unable to attend to his duty on account of absence from the village, sudden illness or other cause, he shall place a competent member of the Village Police in charge of his office and make an immediate report to the District Magistrate or authorised officer to whom he is subordinate. The person so placed in charge shall, until receipt of orders to the contrary, be subject to the rights and liabilities of a Police Patel under this Act.