Police Complaints Authority
Topic: Civil Services: Role, Accountability and Reforms · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is a body that hears public complaints of serious misconduct by police personnel. It works at both state and district levels. It was one of the seven directives of the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh (22 September 2006). The idea is that ordinary people should have a place outside the police chain of command to complain about custodial abuse and similar wrongs.
Example
If a person is beaten in police custody, they can complain to the district PCA instead of relying only on senior officers of the same force. In practice, many states have set up weak PCAs or put serving officials at their head, which reduces their independence.
Don't confuse with
- Police Establishment Board: this board handles police transfers, postings and promotions, not public complaints.
- State Security Commission: this body sets broad police policy. It does not hear individual complaints.