The Odisha government has announced a significant policy change, granting executive magistrate powers to Superintendents of Police (SPs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), and Inspectors General (IGs) under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
This development aims to streamline law enforcement actions and improve response times in critical situations.
A notification issued by the Home Department on Thursday confirmed that these senior police officials would now have the authority to make decisions during law-and-order crises, conduct preventive arrests, and issue prohibitory orders without needing approval from revenue officials. This shift in policy seeks to eliminate bureaucratic delays that previously hindered urgent police actions.
Under the new BNSS provisions, police officers can act under several key sections:
- Section 126: Authorizes preventive arrests to avert public disturbances.
- Section 127: Permits securing bonds for good behavior.
- Section 128: Enables action against individuals planning serious offenses.
- Section 129: Allows for security bonds from habitual offenders.
- Section 163: Grants the power to impose prohibitory orders, such as curfews.
The changes are expected to empower police forces across Odisha’s seven police ranges and the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate, enhancing their ability to maintain public safety and prevent crime effectively. In the past, dependency on senior Revenue and Disaster Management Department officers for executive magistrate authority led to significant delays in taking necessary actions.
Examples of inefficiencies under the old system highlight the need for this reform. Between 2021 and 2023, Rourkela police requested action against 280 habitual offenders through revenue magistrates, but only 31 faced consequences. Additionally, in 1,100 land dispute cases requiring bonds under CrPC Section 107, action was taken against just 130 individuals.
The new policy aims to decentralize authority, ensuring that law enforcement agencies can respond promptly and effectively to emerging threats and maintain public order in Odisha.
