The State Cabinet on Monday approved 15 proposals of different departments, including the proposal for enactment of new law by repealing the Police Act, 1861 and the Odisha State Armed Police Act, 1946.
The draft Odisha Police Bill, 2013, which got the Cabinet approval, proposes fixed tenure of at least two years for the DGP, IG, SP and officer-in-charge (OIC). The new Bill seeks to achieve two main objectives __ functional autonomy for the police through security of tenure, streamlined appointment and transfer processes, and the creation of a “buffer body” between the police and the Government.
Secondly, it also seeks enhanced police accountability, both for organisational performance and individual misconduct, official sources said.
As per the proposed structural reforms, there will be one police force in the State and the Director- General of Police will be the head of the organisation. The State will be divided into several police ranges. Each range will have two-three police districts, each district will be further divided into police sub-division.
A separate criminal investigation organisation will be created for investigation of inter-State and inter-district crimes and crimes of serious nature.
The Bill further proposes to have a criminal investigation unit in all urban police stations and crime prone rural areas of the State.