Citizens Group Demands Overhaul of Police Complaints Authorities at a Rally at Tapa Mandi
Citizens Group Demands Overhaul of Police Complaints Authorities at a Rally at Tapa Mandi
Barnala (Tapa), July 13, 2025: A citizens group led by activists Lakha Sidhana and Amitoj Mann held a public rally today to protest against police excesses and to demand urgent reforms to the Police Complaints Authorities in Punjab. The group voiced strong concerns over recurring incidents of police misconduct, including custodial violence, illegal detentions, extortion, and alleged police involvement in the drug trade across the state.
The rally drew wide and diverse support from across Punjab’s civil society, religious, and farmers’ communities. Among those who addressed the gathering were Bapu Tarsem Singh, father of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh; Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a prominent farmer leader; Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala, a respected Sikh leader; Satnam Singh Pannu farm leader, Gurvinder Singh Sidhu Human Rights Advocate, Roman Brar Zira Morcha, Police atrocities Victim families ,
representatives from Nihang Singh Jathebandis; and Kaka Singh Kotra, a leading voice in the farmers’ movement. Their presence underscored a growing unity among social, religious, and grassroots movements in demanding independent police accountability and an end to systemic abuses.
The citizens group pointed out that although the Punjab Police (Amendment) Act, 2014, and the Punjab Police Complaints Authority Rules, 2019, were created to establish State and Divisional Police Complaints Authorities, these institutions have failed to deliver justice. A temporary government notification issued in 2020 appointed serving bureaucrats and police officers to these authorities, undermining the independence and integrity of the mechanism.
Speaking at the rally, the group outlined a series of demands to restore public faith and ensure justice through independent oversight.
First, they called for the appointment of retired judges of the Supreme Court or High Court as chairpersons of the State-level Police Complaints Authority. The authority should include five members, with mandatory representation from SC/ST communities and women. Similarly, District-level Police Complaints Authorities should be headed by sitting District and Sessions Judges and also include five members with diverse representation.
Second, the selection of members and chairpersons must be carried out by a transparent and bipartisan committee including representatives from the government, the opposition, and legal authorities. Meetings of the selection committee should be audio-visually recorded and publicly accessible.
Third, all proceedings and investigations of the authorities must be video recorded. Complainants should be allowed to appear via video conferencing. Daily investigation updates must be published online. Officers assisting in inquiries must submit daily action-taken reports or face legal consequences.
Fourth, the group demanded that the authorities be granted powers to register FIRs, transfer investigations, and independently summon witnesses and documents. Complainants must receive copies of reports and evidence free of charge.
Fifth, the definition of “serious misconduct” must be expanded to include drug-related offences by police personnel. The group stressed that inaction by the police on the drug crisis continues to harm society and must be addressed through accountability.
Sixth, they proposed that any chairman or member found guilty of misconduct or corruption should be removable through a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. District-level members can be removed by the State-level authority.
Seventh, public awareness campaigns should be launched to educate citizens about their rights and how to access the Police Complaints Authority. Pamphlets and videos in local languages should be widely distributed.
Eighth, annual reports of the authorities must be published online. The authorities should hold public meetings to discuss serious cases and establish a Citizens Advisory Panel consisting of representatives from trade unions, farmers, students, Dalit organizations, and human rights groups.
Speaking at the rally, Lakha Sidhana stated that the people of Punjab want justice, not symbolic institutions. Amitoj Mann emphasized that the current system is broken and must be replaced by one that is independent and responsive to public grievances.
The citizens group called on the Punjab Government to immediately amend the rules, establish truly independent complaint authorities, and take real steps toward police accountability. They urged citizens across the state to join the campaign and demand their rights.
