Most Mumbai police posts unauthorised, Govt admits in HC

Government affidavit says 269 of 388 posts don’t have BMC approval; court seeks compliance report from the Home Department before January 9.

The Maharashtra Government on Wednesday admitted before the Bombay High Court that out of 388 beat police chowkies in the city and suburbs, 269 do not have the required approval from the BMC, prompting the court to seek a compliance report from the Home Department before January 9, the date of next hearing.

A division bench of Justice J N Patel and Justice Amjad Sayed was hearing a PIL filed by an NGO alleging that over 300 police chowkies in the city were constructed without getting proper approval from the authorities concerned. The PIL, filed by I K Chuggani of NGO PLEAD, also alleged pilferage of electricity by these chowkies, and that most of them have been sponsored by builders and the names of the sponsors are advertised on the chowkies.

Public Prosecutor Satish Borulkar assured the court that the Police Department will look into the matter and rectify the illegalities. “They (the chowkies) were constructed with the intention to serve the public,” Borulkar submitted.

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In his affidavit, Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) Hemant Karkare admitted that 269 chowkies were constructed without getting sanctions from the BMC and 52 chowkies do display names of their sponsors. The Mumbai Police Commissioner will seek regularisation of the “unauthorised” chowkies failing which they will be demolished, the affidavit said.

The bench directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to file a compliance report before the next hearing on January 9. The court also directed to implead the Electricity Inspector as a party to the petition to look into allegations of electricity pilferage by the chowkies.

On chowkies being sponsored by builders, the court observed that prima facie it did not appreciate Police Department being sponsored by private persons. “It virtually leads to extortion,” Justice Patel observed. Borulkar, however, assured the court that the names of the sponsors will be removed within 30 days. As for pilferage of electricity, he submitted that the power was being drawn from the neighbours. Chuggani disputed this, saying there were instances where the chowkies have taken electricity directly from the supply lines.

“It appears that the fault lies with the Home Department for lack of planning and not providing sufficient funds and facilities to the police which led to all the illegalities,” the bench said. “By January 2008, the police should have everything legitimate,” Justice Patel said.

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Chuggani also informed the court that a senior police inspector had provided him with false information while responding to an RTI query.

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