Dual Command System of Policing

Q. Why is this in news ?
A. The Dual Command System of Policing is being implemented in Bhopal and Indore.

Q. What is the ‘Dual Command’ System?

A.

• Under the dual command system, the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police (SP) share powers and responsibilities in a district.
• Under this structure, the DM is entrusted with issuing arrest warrants, licenses while the SP has powers and responsibilities to investigate crime and make arrests.
• The system is designed to ensure a lower concentration of power and making the police more accountable to the DM at the district level.

Q. How does the Commissionerate system empower the police?

A.

• Under the police Commissionerate system, the powers of both policing and magistracy are concentrated with the commissioner, who is directly accountable to the state government and the state police chief.
• The commissioner of police under the Commissionerate system exercises the powers and duties of a District Magistrate.
• These powers are also available to any officer under the commissioner who is not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
• The police are also empowered to conduct externment proceedings and issue written orders to remove a person from their jurisdiction of the Commissionerate for a maximum of two years.

Q. What is the Need for such system?

A. Various committees constituted to suggest police reforms have recommended implementation of a police commissioner system.

• Rapidly urbanized cities: This is for cities which have witnessed rapid urbanization and have a population of more than 10 lakhs.
• Better accountability: In the 6th report of the National Police Commission, it noted that as compared to police in districts, police in commissionerate in small areas had a better account of themselves.
• Complex security threats: It further pointed out that in urban areas, the changing dynamism and growing complexities of security threats required a swift and prompt response.
• Quick responsivity: Usually in large urban areas, law and order situations develop rapidly, requiring a speed and effective operational response from the police.
• Avoiding delayed action: In districts where the SPs and DMs do not have an understanding, orders to swiftly act are rarely issued in time which aggravates the situation.

Q. What are the Issues with the system?

A. 

• Power-sharing: There needs to be some clarity on what powers will be taken away from the revenue officers, collectors, SDMs and how it will impact the society before implementing it.