The state cabinet is expected to pass the Odisha Police Bill on Monday. The Bill will be placed in the assembly during the upcoming monsoon session that starts on August 20. If passed in the assembly, it will replace the Police Act, 1981 framed by British rulers 152 years ago.
The draft bill has been prepared based on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission, the Soli Sorabji Committee, the Police Commission and the direction of the Supreme Court regarding police services in the country.
It has provisions for giving police autonomy in its functioning and changing the people's perception towards police.
The mandate of the Bill is to make the police people-friendly along with making them more accountable. The proposed model act would envisage formation of the State Complaint Authority and the State Security Commission.
