New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the appointment of Justice Poonam A Bamba, a retired judge of the Delhi High Court, as the Chairperson of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) which deals with the complaints relating to Delhi Police.
According to a press note by the Lieutenant Governor's office, the PCA has been set up to deal with the complaints of the public regarding acts of serious misconduct against Police Personnel, either "suo motu" or on a complaint received from a victim or any person on his/her behalf on a sworn affidavit; the National Human Rights Commission; the National Human Rights Commission; Lieutenant Governor or Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary (Home), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).
However, no anonymous and pseudonymous complaints are entertained. Serious misconduct shall mean any act of commission or omission of a Police Officer that leads to or amounts to death in Police Custody; Grievous hurt in Police Custody; Rape or attempt to rape in Police Custody; Arrest or detention without due process of law; Extortion land/house grabbing or any other incident involving serious abuse of Authority.
The name of Justice Bamba, who retired on August 31, was forwarded as Chairperson of the PCA on the direction of the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court. She will take over as Chairperson of the PCA from Justice P S Teji (retd) whose tenure ended on August 13 this year.
According to instructions from the Supreme Court and recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Police Complaints Authority for GNCTD was established by notification dated January 29, 2018, and LG is the body responsible for selecting the PCA's chairman and members.
The Chief Secretary submitted the proposal for the chairperson's appointment, and the LG was informed that a separate proposal for the members' appointments would be presented to him.
Saxena had earlier approved the Constitution of a Search Committee for identifying replacement of all existing members and had requested the Chief Justice to recommend the name of a retired high court judge for appointment of PCA Chairperson.
The PCA of GNCTD is headed by the Chairperson with three members, out of which one has to be a woman and in case a woman is appointed as Chairperson then it shall not be mandatory to have a woman member.
The term of the Chairperson and Members of the Authority is for three years and the upper age limit for Members is 65 years but the Chairperson can continue beyond 65 years, if necessary to complete three years tenure subject to the approval of the LG. (ANI)
