CITIZEN CHARTER OF DISTRICT SIRMOUR POLICE

THE MISSION STATEMENT: To work towards a safe, just, humane and progressive society.

In pursuit of the mission, the police individually and as an organization will work towards creating a society which is:

SAFE 

• by the peaceful resolution of potential conflicts;
• through a proactive approach to maintaining the public peace; 
• by adopting the strategies of  community policing;
• by preventing crime and criminals to justice through partnerships with the community  

JUST

• Avoid any element of  bias on any grounds includes casts, community or gender and work for the equity; to be sensitive to the problem  of crimes against weaker sections of society;
• respect the right to redressal of the citizens; this would imply that complaints would be registered with receipt, that a complaint would not be refused on grounds of jurisdiction;
• copies of  FIR would be given under acknowledgement, and action taken there on intimated within a reasonable time;
• so improve the responsiveness and receptiveness of the police that individual citizens regardless of status can approach the police without fear or apprehension;
• educate the public of both their rights and obligations vis-à-vis the police and under the law;
• demonstrate firmness  accompanied  by fairness and transparent honesty in the performance of duties such as arrest, seizure, and procedures of law enforcement;
• strike a balance between respect for the civic rights of the aggrieved and the human rights of  accused and suspected persons;
   

HUMANE  

• provide every citizen in the State with the best quality of service which meets the needs of the individual and gains the trust and support of society at large;
• be as transparent as possible in day to day dealing with the public without compromising on areas where secrecy and confidentiality are to be maintained;
• adopt a people friendly policing style to win the confidence of the public;
• render assistance in whatever manner possible or necessary to victims of crime;
• continually cultivate a cooperative image of helpfulness and service particularly when dealing with the very young, the aged, women, and differently enabled;
• rush medical assistance to persons injured in traffic mishaps or any other type of disaster or traumatic situation;
   

PROGRESSIVE  

• actively consult the public in all possible areas and functions of policing and allow citizens to make inputs in the policing process, recognizing that the sole cornerstone of effective policing is public cooperation;  
• adhere to a code of professional ethics and personal integrity;  
• cope with the change by constantly evaluating attitudes of personnel, and upgrading skills and knowledge through sensitization programmes and  state of the art training at all levels;  
• encourage innovations and cost effective initiatives that will better deliver the range of police services     to the people.

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CITIZENS  

According to Article 51A of the Constitution of India, it is the duty of every citizen of India to safe guard public property and to abjure violence.

It is the duty of a citizen to obey the law, to keep the peace and to assist the police. By helping the police the citizens help to preserve the rights and freedom of other members of society. The responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests on the citizens. The police perform the function of law enforcement on a full time basis on behalf of society. Citizens are expected to perform this role on a part time basis.

In performing the above role it is the duty of citizens to report to the police, if they have witnessed or they have any information about the following offences made punishable under the Law:

• Offences against the State.
• 0ffencs against the public tranquility or breach of peace.
• Offences relating to adulteration of food and drugs etc.
• Offences affecting life.
• Offences relating to kidnapping for ransom.
• Offences of theft after preparation made of causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft.
• Offences of robbery and dacoity.
• Offences relating to Criminal Breach of Trust by public servant.
• Offences of mischief against property.
• Offences of house of lurking house trespass as specified in Sections 449 and 450 Indian Penal Code.
• Offences relating to currency notes and bank notes. Omission to give such information is punishable in law.
• It is the duty of the Citizens to co-operate with the Police in investigation of the case at the time of drawing up search and seizure list, or inquest proceedings in the interest of furthering criminal justice. Citizens will never shelter or harbour any proclaimed offender. Citizens have the duty to render evidence in a court of law.

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS

• Right to make a complaint. A complaint can be lodged in writing at any time or at any Police Station. Even if the crime is committed beyond the jurisdictional limits of the police station, a complainant cannot be asked to go to the concerned police station. It is the duty of the police station to get the complaint transferred to the police station concerned.
• Right to get a printed receipt after submission of a petition in person at any police station. It will not be possible to acknowledge petitions sent by post.
• Right to open a copy of the FIR registered, free of cost. (Alternately, FIR can be obtained from the Citizen Portal of Himachal Pradesh Police (unless made invisible/secret after following due procedures as per Honorable Supreme Court Judgement Youth Bar Association of India Union of India, Writ Petition (Crl.) No. 68 of 2016, decided on 07.09.2016)
• Right to know about the progress of the inquiry in respect of the complaint.
• Police does not have the powers to inquire about non-cognizable complaints without permission of the Honorable court.
• Right to Public Service Delivery (Himachal Pradesh Public Service Guarantee Act 2011, Rules 04)

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS ON SPECIFICALLY ON ARREST BY THE POLICE  

Individual citizens in the event of arrest by the police have the right :-

• to be informed of the ground of  arrest, a arrest memo will be made at the time of arrest duly attested by witnesses and counter-signed by the arrestee.
• to inform a relative or friend,  
• to have a lawyer of his/her choice present,  
• to know the identity of the police personnel effecting the arrest,  
• to be examined by a medical practitioner.  
• to search the police officer to being se for recovery of evidence of crime. 
• Information regarding the arrest and the place of custody of the arrestee shall be communicated by the officer causing the arrest within 12 hours of  effecting the arrest and at the police control room it should be displayed on a conspicuous notice board

SPECIFIC RIGHTS OF WOMEN  

• Until and unless there are unavoidable circumstances a woman accused cannot be detained between the sunset and the sunrise.
• During the night time a woman accused can be detained only by the woman police.
• A woman can be checked physically by a woman police only and will be questioned only in the presence of women police.
• Children below the age of 15 years and woman cannot be called to the police station for taking statement. 
• A complaint can be lodged to get back the ornaments and other valuables of the woman given in her marriage.
• Arrangement of separate lock up for the woman. 

Women witnesses will only be examined at their residence. In the case of women accused they will be questioned in the presence of women police. In case women accused are deta, they shall be kept in areas women and sponsored by women police.
 

SPECIFIC RIGHTS OF CHILDREN    

Children accused of any offence will be dealt with according to the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and not be held in custody along with adult offenders and in the event of being convicted for an offence for the first time will be released on probation.

GRIEVVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM

• It is the endeavour of sirmour Police to provide various services it is mandated to give to the public within the established time frame, and by ensuring the best quality. However, in case of complaints, the members of the public may take recourse to the following remedies:-
  • Appeal to the Superintendent of Police District sirmour at Reckong Peo in its office, in writing, if the complaint requires their personal attention, either by post (Contact Us) or by email at the Email address: sp-kin-hp@nic.in
  • Appeal to the next higher authority i.e. Inspector General of Police, Southern Range, Shimla (H.P.) either by post or by email at the email address: igp-sr-hp@nic.in

 ADVICE TO FOREIGNERS  

• All foreigners visiting any part of India are advised to abide strictly by the conditions stipulated in the visa. Violation may result in deportation.  
• If your visa is for more than six months then you must get yourself registered with the Foreigners’ Registration Officer (District Superintendent of Police) within 15 days of your arrival. This is necessary to get the Certificate of Registration and the Residential Permit.  
• Pakistani citizens will have to get themselves registered within 24 hours of their arrival, irrespective of the period of their visa.  
• You will have to get yourself registered if your visa is for less than six months but you plan to get extended.  
• The law requires that you shall produce the passport for inspection by the competent authority (Registration officer, magistrate or police officer not below the rank of a head constable) within 24 hours is such demand being made.  
• Similarly, the Certificate of Registration also needs to be kept safely as that too has to be produced within 24 hours is demand is made for that.  
• If there is going to be a change in your registered address or if you propose to remain at that address for more than two weeks at a stretch, you must report that to the Registration Officer.  
• If you are staying at a hotel, you must fill out the Form ‘C’ within 24 hours of your arrival and give it to the hotel management which shall be responsible for forwarding it to the authorities.  
• Please abide by the aforesaid rules. Violation is punishable with imprisonment up to five years.  
• During your stay and travel, avail yourself of the services of authorized personnel only (porters, guides, taxi operators etc.) to the extent possible. This makes tracking them easier in case anyone commits any offence.  
• If you going to be in forest areas / remote or hilly terrain for looking areas for trekking etc. Please make yourself aware of the concerned rules first.  

Disclaimer: The contents of this Charter are only to assist the public and not to create any legal obligations.