JOIN US"The Police Act 1861 in its application to the state of Meghalaya and the Meghalaya Village Defense Organisation Act 1966 are hereby repealed," the new Act states.
"The government has decided to enact a new law to regulate the role, functions and management of police establishments to provide an impartial and efficient police force safeguarding interests of the people with due regard to the rule of law," Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said.
The new Act would secure professional independence for police and enable government to oversee police performance without scope of illegal, irregular or malafide interference with police functions.
It would ensure security of tenure of select office and constitution of a statutory Commission to advice on certain matters.The State Security Commission, chaired by chief minister, would function as a watchdog body and its recommendations would be binding on the state government.
It would restructure various organs of police setup to improve quality of criminal justice system. The term of officers from DGP to Officers-in-Charge has been fixed at two years.
The Police Establishment Board, headed by the DGP, has been given exclusive powers to decide all transfers, postings and promotions and other service related matters of officers of and below the rank of DSPs.
The Act envisaged creating of an Anti-Infiltration Directorate for dealing with the problem of illegal influx from across international border.The government would establish a Police Training academy, college or school for ensuring efficient training to recruits. A Police Accountability Commission would also be constituted.The House passed the Bill through voice vote.