The Kerala High Court has granted the State four weeks to fill the post of Chief Investigating Officer in the State Police Complaints Authority, an independent body constituted under the Kerala Police Act to examine complaints against police officers. The direction came in a PIL over the Authority’s effective functioning and the long-pending non-appointment of an independent investigator, despite earlier directions to do so within 60 days back in 2022.
The Supreme Court of India is set to hear petitions in May regarding the enforcement of its 2006 judgment aimed at police reforms, including separating investigation and law enforcement roles and instituting merit-based DGP appointments. Advocacy groups express concerns over state governments’ non-compliance, prompting the court to initiate contempt proceedings.
