Rapid Fire
Civic Police Volunteers
- 28 Aug 2024
- 2 min read
The rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College has sparked widespread protests across India. The accused, a civic police volunteer (CPV) with access to sensitive areas of the hospital, has highlighted serious concerns about the oversight and roles of these volunteers.
- CPV, or village police volunteers as they are known in rural areas, are contractual workers engaged by the police for assistance, particularly in traffic management and other minor duties that do not require police personnel.
- They are not trained for formal law enforcement tasks, such as conducting investigations or making arrests.
- In West Bengal, to qualify as a CPV, individuals must be local residents, at least 20 years old, have passed Class VIII (initially Class X), and have no criminal record.
- Legal and Judicial Concerns: In Chandra Kanta Ganguli vs The State of West Bengal and Others, 2016, the Calcutta High Court has raised concerns about the recruitment and legal validity of CPVs, noting issues with the vetting process (background check).
- The High Court and police administration have stated that CPVs have been involved in law enforcement duties despite orders restricting them from such roles, leading to further legal concerns.
- Criticisms: There have been multiple reports of CPVs overstepping their roles and involvement in criminal activities.
- Critics argue that CPVs are sometimes appointed based on political loyalty rather than merit, leading to concerns about the politicization of the police force and potential conflicts of interest.
