Magisterial powers to be bestowed on police commissioner

Magisterial powers to be bestowed on police commissioner

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 30: The police commissioner of Mangalore will be given magisterial powers as per the Code of Criminal Procedure (1973), the Karnataka Police Act (1963), the Indian Arms Act (1959), the Karnataka Goonda Act (1985), and the Indian Explosive Act, within 30 days. 

These powers will enable the police commissioner to extern, detain, and arrest suspects; to take major decisions regarding traffic regulations; and to arbitrate “proceedings to extern an accused” as per sections 55 and 56 of the Karnataka Police Act. 

Mr. Gopal Hosur said that a proposal has been recently submitted to the state government, requesting a staff of 1,657 police officers for the Mangalore Police Commissionerate. He said that at least two years are required to fill all the vacant posts. The commissionerate deals with that part of DK, which has the highest crime rate. 

The new commissionerate also requires land for the setting up of its headquarters. This might pose a major challenge because land is mostly held by private parties, who charge exorbitantly for it. The bifurcation of the district police leads to additional complications, said Mr. Hosur. Police personnel will now have to be given a choice of working for the commissionerate or for the district police. 

The cost of setting up the commissionerate, which includes recurring as well as non recurring costs, is estimated to be Rs 26.6 crore by 2012 - 13.