Dear Querist,
1. In your matter, one of the experts seem to be advising you to report the matter to Central vigilance commission. It is very important to clarify the things ab initio. There is no jurisdiction of Central vigilance commission to entertain a complaint against the Police. The Police is a state subject. In this connection, Entry 2 in the List II- state list Under Seventh Schedule of the Constitution (Pertaining to Article 246 of the Constitution of India) clearly brings out that Police is a state subject.
2. The Circular No 25/12/21 dated 24.12.21 issued by Central Vigilance Commission deals with Comprehensive Guidelines On Complaint Handling Mechanism. Para 1.3(b) under chapter-I of the said circular clearly mentions that Commission’s Jurisdiction does not extend to the Organisations of the State Government. As such, any complaint against the Police Sub Inspector is out of the Purview of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
3. The Honourable Supreme Court of India in the matter of Prakash Singh & Ors Vs Union of India & Ors [ WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 310 OF 1996] on 22/09/2006 had given various Directions to the Central Government, State Governments and Union Territories for compliance till framing of the appropriate legislations. One of the directions given was Constitution of Police Complaints Authority. The salient issues of these directions given were as under :-
(a) There shall be a Police Complaints Authority at the District level to look into complaints against police officers of and up to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
(b) Similarly, there should be another Police Complaints Authority at the State level to look into complaints against officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police and above.
(c) The District level Authority may be headed by a retired District Judge while the State level Authority may be headed by a retired Judge of the High Court/Supreme Court.
(d) The Head of the State level Complaints Authority shall be chosen by the State Government out of a panel of names proposed by the Chief Justice.
(e) The Head of the district level Complaints Authority may also be chosen out of a panel of names proposed by the Chief Justice or a Judge of the High Court nominated by him.
(f) These Authorities may be assisted by three to five members depending upon the volume of complaints in different States/districts, and they shall be selected by the State Government from a panel prepared by the State Human Rights Commission/Lok Ayukta/State Public Service Commission.
(g) The panel may include members from amongst retired civil servants, police officers or officers from any other department, or from the civil society. They would work whole time for the Authority and would have to be suitably remunerated for the services rendered by them.
(h) The Authority may also need the services of regular staff to conduct field inquiries. For this purpose, they may utilize the services of retired investigators from the CID, Intelligence, Vigilance or any other organization.
(i) The State level Complaints Authority would take cognizance of only allegations of :-
(j) Serious misconduct by the police personnel, which would include incidents involving :-
(aa) Death,
(ab) Grievous hurt or
(ac) Rape in police custody.
(k) The District level Complaints Authority would, apart from above cases, may also inquire into allegations of :-
(i) Extortion,
(ii) Land/house grabbing or
(iii) Any incident involving serious abuse of authority.
(l) The recommendations of the Complaints Authority, both at the district and State levels, for any action, departmental or criminal, against a delinquent police officer shall be binding onthe concerned authority.
4. Unfortunately not all the states have implemented these directions of Constituting Police Complaints Authority. Therefore, in your case following course of action is recommended :-
(a) Firstly, find out whether a State or District Police Complaint Authority has been constituted in the state and the District in which the said police station is situated where this Police Sub- Inspector is posted. If there is a District Police Complaint Authority, then you may like to complain the matter to such authority (for your matter is a case of abuse of authority by the Police Sub- inspector) with following details :-
- Name of the complaint,
- Address of complaint,
- Contact details of complaint,
- Write about the complaint- what happened,
- When happened,
- The name of the officer of whom against you want to file a complaint,
- What was said or done by the police officer.
- If anyone witness at the spot of incident, add their name also
(b) For example in the state of Uttarakhand, the police complaint authority has been constituted. The link is as under :-
https://www.dpcahaldwani.com/
one has to click on the link and download the complaint form.
(c) Secondly, nothing stops you in complaining against this Police Sub- Inspector to the Superintendent of Police with a copy of complaint to Director-General of Police citing the case law i.e Honourable Supreme Court of India in the matter of Prakash Singh & Ors Vs Union of India & Ors [ WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 310 OF 1996] on 22/09/2006 and the directions brought out about in the said case law.
(d) Thirdly, even if the police channel doesn’t work, you will like to escalate the matter, writing a letter directly to the Honourable Chief Justice of the High Court of the state to which the matter pertains to, citing the case law Prakash Singh & Ors Vs Union of India & Ors and directions given by honourable Supreme Court and yet that nothing has been done to constitute the Police Complaint Authority (if not constituted) and that you as a person aggrieved has not got justice. There is a likelihood that the honourable Chief Justice of the said High Court likely to take cognizance of the matter that the directions of Honourable Supreme Court have not been complied with and you as the victim of the abuse of power by a sub- inspector still stand aggrieved with no action taken on the matter escalated by you.
(e) Fourthly, whatever correspondence you do, send the correspondence of the same by registered post/speed post of the India post so that proper track record can be taken out of the dispatch of your letters and receipt of the same with various agencies.