Gujarat opposes federal agency to tackle crime

New Delhi, April 15 (IANS) The Gujarat government Monday disagreed with a major recommendation made by the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) on the setting up of a new federal agency to deal with federal crimes.

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Rajnikant Patel, who represented the state government, said there is no need to establish a new federal set up since agencies like the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) already exist at the central level.

Speaking at the chief ministers’ meet called by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to discuss police reforms, internal security and review of overall law and order situation in the country, Patel stated that it would not be appropriate to divide investigation and law and order as was suggested by the ARC in its report.

“The role of police and its discharge of duty are co-related, and therefore the Gujarat government does not agree with this recommendation of the panel also,” he said.

“In all districts of Gujarat, we have established special teams which focus on only investigation work. In addition to this, the CID (Crime Investigation Department) also works for the purpose of crime investigation at the state level,” he added.

He stated that Gujarat has also constituted the State Security Commission, Police Establishment Board and state and district level Police Complaints Authority to monitor police performance, the attitude of police towards the public and also on transfer of police personnel. The Police Complaint Authority includes members who are not from the government.

The Gujarat government welcomed some recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission including welfare of police employees, procedure of summons, jail reforms, witness security, he said.

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