The Telangana Village Police Act, 1974

(1) This Act may be called the Telangana Village Police Act, 1974. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Telangana. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Telangana Gazette, appoint.

For the purposes of this Act, the District Magistrate or any officer authorised by him in this behalf may appoint, one or more village servants as village police for each village, and the police patel, village headman, village munsif, triune officer or other head of the village by whatever designation locally known, as the head of the village police of that village.

The administration of the village police in each district shall vest in the District Magistrate, who may delegate any of his powers and functions relating to such administration to a subordinate Executive Magistrate within whose local jurisdiction the village is situated.

Every village police officer shall- (a) reciprocally communicate all information regarding any offences committed or any gang of robbers or strangers of suspicious appearance having entered or taken refuge in the village ; (b) report promptly to the nearest Executive Magistrate having jurisdiction over the village and to the police officer in-charge of the nearest police station,- (i) the matters specified in clause (a), (ii) all offences committed in the village, and (iii) all matters connected with public peace and tranquility; (c) afford such assistance and facility as may be necessary or required by any police officer in the discharge of his duty; (d) obey and execute all lawful orders issued to him by the concerned Executive Magistrate or the Police Officer; (e) prevent, to the best of his ability, the commission of any offence or public nuisance within the limits of the village; and (f) take measures consistent with law to bring offenders to justice.

The village police officer shall have authority to require the Karnam and any Village servant to aid him in the discharge of his duties under this Act.

Where the village police officer is informed that stolen property is being concealed and where he has reason to apprehend that the stolen property may be made away with unless prompt measures are taken to secure it, he shall cause search to be made in the prescribed manner and secure and forward the property, if found, along with the offender to the police officer in charge of the nearest police station.

The village police officer shall endeavour to the best of his ability to preserve in tact the scene of offence and finger and foot prints in case of murder, house-breaking, robbery, dacoity, rioting, accidental death or suicide until the police officer concerned arrives on the scene for investigation.

The village police officer shall take charge of all the unclaimed property found within the limits of the village or delivered to him lawfully and shall forthwith forward all such property to the police officer in charge of the nearest police station for disposal in accordance with law.

On the occurrence of an accident to an aircraft, the village police officer shall at once report the matter to the Executive Magistrate having jurisdiction over the area and to the police officer in charge of the nearest police station and if any person is injured as a result of such accident, the village police officer shall forthwith report the matter to the nearest medical officer. He shall also take such further action as may be prescribed.

Any village police officer, village police, or other village officer or servant liable to be requisitioned for the purpose of police duties under this Act who shall be guilty of neglect or violation of duty imposed by or under this Act, or wilful breach of any rule or order made by a competent authority under this Act, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees, or with both.

The Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Village Police Regulation, 1816, and the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Village Police Regulation, 1821 are hereby repealed.