Whether a police constable is a police officer under Delhi Police Act?

[Anonymous]

Delhi Police Act gives various powers to a “police officer”. My question is that whether a police constable working in Delhi Police is also a “police officer” or he is not so being merely a “policeman” as he is generally known?

[Dr. Ashok Dhamija]

It may be pointed out that Section 2(m) of the Delhi Police Act, 1978, lays down as under:

“(m) “police officer” means any member of the Delhi police;”

Further, Section 2(d) of the said Act mandates that:

“(d) “constable” means a police officer of the lowest grade;”

Likewise, Section 5(a) of the said Act lays down that:

“the Delhi police shall consist of such number in the several ranks and have such organisation and such powers, functions and duties as the Administrator may, by general or special order, determine; and”

A combined reading of the above provisions in the Delhi Police makes it quite clear that a “police constable” in Delhi Police is a “police officer” for the purposes of the said Act, even if sometimes people may casually refer to him as a “policeman”.

     

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Dr. Ashok Dhamija is a New Delhi based Supreme Court Advocate and author of law books. Read more about him by clicking here. List of his Forum Replies. List of his other articles. List of his Quora Answers. List of his YouTube Videos.

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