In UP, women’s panel member ‘inspects’ police station, gets letter from senior cop: ‘Do not have authority’

Kanpur Commissioner of Police, Raghubir Lal, and Joint Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, Kanpur Commissionerate, Vinod Kumar Singh, did not respond to calls seeking comment. In a statement to the media, however, Commissioner Lal said he has spoken to both and there is no issue now.

On November 22, member Anita Gupta — who is also vice-president of the BJP’s Kanpur-Bundelkhand region — went to the Barra police station.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Gupta said, “I had gone to the Barra police station to take up a complaint of a woman, who alleged she was being pressured by the police to [agree to a] compromise in a complaint she filed related to a family dispute. I went to the Mahila [women’s] desk and checked the register for details recorded about the woman’s visits and updates of the initiatives taken by the police so far.”

“I have the authority to take up matters related to complaints by women and inquire about developments from the police,” she added.

Gupta told The Indian Express that she got the letter, delivered by hand, at her residence in Kanpur on Tuesday.

“Raising objections over the comments mentioned in the letter by the police officer, I have spoken to the Chairperson, Babita ji, and forwarded the letter to her. She would take further decisions in this regard,” said Gupta.

When contacted, Chairperson Chauhan said, “I have been informed of the matter. Anita ji is a senior politician and knows her duty. Also, the letter has been sent by a senior officer… I have asked those concerned at the Commission to get all the details about the matter. I have taken cognizance of it and would [proceed further] according to the findings.”

The letter in Hindi addressed to Gupta, bearing the signature of Joint CP Singh, refers to her inspection of Barra police station.

It states that “as per legal provisions and scheduled jurisdiction, women’s commission members do not have authority of inspection of a police station directly. Such inspections cause disturbances in daily police workings, which affects providing services to the public and emergency responsibilities. This obstructs the continuity of the police system.”

The letter further states, “Therefore, in context of the facts mentioned above, it is strongly expected that you work within the rights and power given to you. The inspection of work, management and internal systems related to the police department is not included in your jurisdiction.”

The letter advises Gupta further, stating, “This is expected [in order] to avoid such inspections in future, so that the police department discharges its constitutional and administrative responsibilities without any obstruction…”

What does the Commission do

On the women’s commission website, under a section titled workspace, it lists that the body works for “protecting the constitutional rights of women, empowerment of women, to take effective action on complaints related to women harassment”.

Under a section titled ‘Activities of the Commission’, it lists field inspection: ‘Hon’ble officers of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission take suo motu cognizance of serious incidents of harassment of women occurring in various districts of the state, meet the victim/victim’s family and after conducting field investigation as required, direct the officials concerned to take immediate action.’

Curated For You

Assam Assembly passes anti-polygamy bill; CM Himanta Sarma says ‘not against Islam’

As Assam BJP govt tables Nellie reports, a look back at the party during the agitation

Aland ‘vote chori’ traced to an ‘OTPbazaar’, Bengal, an ‘SMSAlert’, US