When Was the Telangana State Police Complaint Authority Office Inaugurated?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- SPCA aims for police accountability.
- Inaugurated by Justice B. Shiva Shankar Rao.
- Located at BRKR Bhavan, Hyderabad.
- Addresses serious police misconduct complaints.
- Strengthens democracy through transparency.
Hyderabad, Aug 3 (NationPress) The State Police Complaint Authority (SPCA) of Telangana was officially launched on Sunday.
Justice (Retd.) B. Shiva Shankar Rao, a former judge of the Telangana High Court, had the honor of inaugurating the SPCA office located on the 8th floor of D block in BRKR Bhavan, near the State Secretariat.
This authority was established in accordance with the Supreme Court directives from a 2006 ruling following a PIL filed by retired IPS officer Prakash Singh, aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and fair resolution of grievances against police officers ranked Deputy Superintendent of Police and above.
During the inauguration, Justice Shiv Shankar Rao stressed the significance of such institutions in fortifying democracy and enhancing public confidence in the police. He also pointed out that the SPCA is designed to operate independently, providing a straightforward platform for citizens to report any misconduct or negligence by police personnel of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and higher.
The establishment of SPCAs at state and district levels was mandated by the Supreme Court as part of the Prakash Singh vs. Union of India case.
SPCAs are tasked with receiving and investigating serious allegations against police officers, including cases of death, severe injuries, custodial rape, extortion, and abuse of authority.
The SPCA will be essential in safeguarding the integrity of the police force and upholding the rule of law. The Chairman urged the public to visit the SPCA office at D block, 8th floor, BRKR Bhavan, Hyderabad, to seek redress for their complaints and issues related to police misconduct.
Participants at the inauguration included SPCA members Pramod Kumar (IPS Retd.), Dr. Varre Venkateshwarlu, District Police Complaint Authority Chairman and former District Judge Y. Aravind Reddy, along with K.V. Ram Narsimha Reddy (Addl. SP Retd.), S. Rajender, Ramana Kumar, and AIG (Law and Order).
The Telangana Government has recently allocated space in BRKR Bhavan for the State Police Complaint Authority, which was previously occupied by the Kaleshwaram Commission office.