Police
Topic: Justice Delivery: Subordinate Courts, Tribunals, Legal Aid and Judicial Reforms · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 6 "The State, the Government, and You"
Meaning
The police are the government body that keeps law and order and investigates crime. "Police" and "public order" are entries 1 and 2 of the State List in the Constitution, so each state runs its own police force. The police may lawfully use force, but they must respect people's constitutional rights. Many states still work under the colonial Police Act 1861. The police are the first link in the criminal justice system, which runs from the police through prosecution and courts to prisons.
Example
When someone reports a murder, the police register an FIR, collect evidence, arrest the suspect and file a charge sheet in court. In big cities run under the commissionerate system, a Commissioner of Police heads the force.
Don't confuse with
- Executive magistrates: the DM and SDM also help keep public order, for example by issuing prohibitory orders. But they are civil officers, not part of the police force.
Related concepts
- Criminal justice system
- Commissionerate system of policing
- Cognizable offence
- Non-cognizable offence
- First Information Report
- Zero FIR
- e-FIR
- Charge sheet
- Arnesh Kumar guidelines
- Police custody