Revenue Police System in Uttarakhand

Introduction

The Revenue Police System, also known as the patwari police system, is a unique policing system implemented in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. In this system, certain police functions like maintaining law and order and preventing crime are carried out by the Revenue Department instead of the regular Police Department.

The key aspects covered in this article are:

History and Legal Basis

• Origins during the British era after the Treaty of Sagauli
• Introduction through laws like the Scheduled Districts Act 1874, Kumaun Police Act 1916, and the Tehri Garhwal Revenue Officials Act 1956
• Coverage of over 65% of Uttarakhand’s geographical area currently

Functioning

• Patwaris functioning as Sub-Inspectors with powers of a Station House Officer
• Naib Tehsildars having powers akin to a Deputy Superintendent of Police
• Patwaris also serving as protocol officers during VIP visits

Arguments For and Against

• Effective policing in remote hill areas with low crime rates
• Controversial 2018 High Court judgement calling for its abolition
• Concerns about accountability and lack of police training

Recent Developments

• Declining coverage from over 90% of state area previously
• Merger of posts and confusion over hierarchy and roles
• Need for better coordination between revenue police and regular police

So let’s analyze this unique system in detail:

History and Legal Basis

The origins of the Revenue Police System in Uttarakhand can be traced back to the British era after the Treaty of Sagauli was signed in 1816. As per the treaty, the Kumaon and Garhwal regions were ceded by the Gurkhas to the British. The British then divided the area into two parts:

1. British Kumaon – which was governed by them directly as a Commissionerary
2. Princely State of Tehri – which was allowed to remain under local rulers as a native state.

Introduction in British Kumaon

In the areas under their direct control, the British introduced the Revenue Police System. As per historical accounts, the second Commissioner of Kumaun, Mr Trail, wrote to the Governor General of India that crime rates are negligible in the hilly region. He also stated that considering the remoteness and geographical conditions, there was no need for regular policing except at important stations like Almora, Ranikhet and Nainital.

Accordingly, the first police station was established at Almora in 1837, followed by one at Ranikhet in 1843. For the remaining vast hill areas of British Kumaon, the Revenue Police System was implemented wherein police functions were given to revenue officials like Tehsildars and Patwaris.

Over the years, this system was given legal sanction through laws like the Scheduled Districts Act 1874, Kumaun Police Act 1916 and the Tehri Garhwal Revenue Officials Act 1956. Currently, the Revenue Police System covers around 65% of the total geographical area of Uttarakhand.

Introduction in Tehri Garhwal

The parts of Uttarakhand that were with the princely state of Tehri had their own administrative setup. After independence, the Tehri Garhwal Revenue Officials Act 1956 was passed to introduce the Revenue Police System here. Through a government order on 4th March 1958, revenue officials in Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi districts were given policing powers on lines of the system in British Kumaon.

Later in 1958, the Jaunsar Bawar Pargana Revenue Officials Act was passed to cover the Chakrata tehsil of Dehradun district. Over the years, the system has expanded and now extends to around 65% of Uttarakhand’s area spanning 8 hill districts.

Functioning of the Revenue Police

Under the unique Revenue Police System of Uttarakhand, certain police functions are carried out by designated revenue officials in rural hill areas. The main aspects are:

Key Functionaries

• Patwari – The Patwari is the key official under this system. Patwaris are usually responsible for land records and revenue collection in villages. But in areas under the Revenue Police, they additionally discharge police functions.
• Naib Tehsildar – The Naib Tehsildar is the supervisory officer above the Patwari. Under the Revenue Police, he exercises certain police powers.

Powers

• The Patwari works like a Police Sub-Inspector in areas under his charge. He enjoys all the legal authority and policing powers of a Station House Officer (SHO) of a regular police station.
• The Naib Tehsildar is endowed with police powers equivalent to a Deputy Superintendent of Police. He supervises police work done by Patwaris under his jurisdiction.

Thus Patwaris and Naib Tehsildars jointly carry out police functions like:

• Maintaining law and order
• Preventing crime
• Investigating criminal cases
• Making arrests
• Prosecuting offenders

In this way, the entire set of policing responsibilities right from the initial reporting of a crime to the final disposal of the case rests with these revenue officials in notified hill areas.

Other Responsibilities

Apart from police work, Patwaris also serve as protocol officers to receive and facilitate VIP visits in areas under the Revenue Police System. During election time, additional police force is temporarily deployed for poll duties. But otherwise Patwaris discharge all regular policing duties.

Over the years, the Revenue Police System has become an integral part of the administrative machinery in Uttarakhand’s hill districts like Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Chamoli, Uttarkashi etc.

Arguments For and Against

The Revenue Police System has been both hailed and criticized by observers, media and the judiciary in Uttarakhand. There are arguments on both sides about its rationale and efficacy.

Arguments Supporting Revenue Police

Effective Rural Policing: When the system was introduced by the British, it was primarily meant for remote hill villages where they felt regular policing mechanisms were not required. Over the long period of its functioning, the Revenue Police is credited with maintaining excellent law and order in rural areas at minimal cost to the exchequer.

Crime rates also continue to remain low in hill districts under the Revenue Police in comparison to urbanized plains of Uttarakhand. This vindicates the standalone efficacy of this decentralized, village-level policing system.

Lower Costs: By utilizing existing revenue officials for policing work, the system avoids expenses on creating new posts and infrastructure for regular police. Salary and operational costs are much lesser than what would be needed for extensive police presence in sparsely populated hill villages.

Local Knowledge: Revenue officials like Patwaris and Tehsildars are from the same region and have intimate local knowledge about terrain, communities, key persons etc. This helps them in effective policing. In contrast, regular police force tends to have frequent transfers leading to lack of such ground-level familiarity.

Nimbleness: The small strength and local orientation of Revenue Police makes them more nimble-footed in responding to rural problems. They do not face the red tape and outdated functioning that burden regular police establishments.

Thus according to supporters, the Revenue Police System continues to deliver efficient results in meeting the limited policing needs of far-flung hill villages in Uttarakhand.

Arguments Against Revenue Police

However, over the years the Revenue Police System has also attracted its share of criticism on grounds like:

Accountability: Critics argue that giving unchecked police powers to revenue officials lacking training and oversight can increase chances of abuse and corruption. There are few accountability mechanisms built into the structure and functioning of the Revenue Police.

Legal Ambiguity: The judicial standing of revenue officials to discharge criminal justice functions has been challenged. After a writ petition, the Uttarakhand High Court declared the system illegal and unconstitutional in January 2018. However, the state government has contested the order in Supreme Court where the matter remains sub-judice.

Lack of Coordination: Communication gaps and coordination deficits between the parallel police structures at times create problems. Lack of clear hierarchy and division of work between Revenue Police and regular police leads to confusion and delays.

Declining Relevance: Over the years the justification of continuing with a colonial era policing structure for modern times has weakened. Rural connectivity and development has increased considerably. Hence critics argue that the Revenue Police System has outlived its utility and regular police should now take over all law and order responsibilities.

In light of the above criticisms, there are growing question marks on the rationale behind sustaining the Revenue Police System. But defenders of the system argue that it continues to work reasonably well within its limited mandate in rural hill areas that constitute the majority of Uttarakhand’s villages.

Recent Developments

In recent years, the coverage and structure of the Revenue Police System in Uttarakhand has undergone certain changes:

Declining Coverage – From over 90% of Uttarakhand’s geographical area earlier, the jurisdiction of Revenue Police has declined to around 65% currently. Many newly created hill subdivisions have been brought under regular police.

Merger of Posts – Distinct designations like Inspector Patwari and Deputy Inspector Patwari have been merged into the common Patwari position. This has led to some confusion regarding hierarchy, roles and responsibilities vis-a-vis regular police.

Need for Better Coordination – As regular police expands further into interior rural areas, coordination between both forces needs improvement to avoid jurisdictional conflicts and delays in investigation. Proper Standard Operating Procedures for this have not evolved leading to gaps.

Continued Relevance – Yet due to Uttarakhand’s unique hill geography, dispersed villages and low population density, the Revenue Police continues to retain relevance. Complete transition to regular police also involves massive financial costs and manpower challenges.

While adjustments in its structure and coverage continue, the future direction of the Revenue Police System remains debated between calls for its abolition versus arguments favouring its continuation in some form. The final view of judiciary on this colonial era policing structure is also keenly awaited.

Conclusion

The Revenue Police System is a unique policing arrangement specific to the hill state of Uttarakhand in northern India. Under this mechanism, certain police functions are discharged by designated revenue officials like Patwaris and Naib Tehsildars in rural areas notified under various laws.

Introduced by the British, the system has both defenders and critics. It is credited with enabling low-cost rural policing with outcomes tailored to local requirements. But over the years, questions have arisen regarding its accountability, legal sanctity and relevance.

Of late, the coverage of Revenue Police has declined from over 90% to 65% of Uttarakhand’s area. The 2018 High Court ruling calling for its scrapping has also cast a shadow. But the system retains utility in the still difficult to access hill villages constituting majority of the state’s rural populace.

The Revenue Police System remains an intriguing example of decentralized, village-level policing structure evolved through historical exigencies of a remote mountainous region. Its future evolution in Uttarakhand merits close attention.

FAQs:

What is the revenue police system in Uttarakhand?

The revenue police system is a unique decentralized rural policing structure wherein certain police functions like maintaining law and order are carried out by designated revenue officials instead of regular police in remote hill areas of Uttarakhand.

When was the revenue police system introduced in Uttarakhand?

The origins of the revenue police system date back to the British era after the Treaty of Sagauli was signed in 1816. It was legally formalized through laws like the Kumaun Police Act 1916 and Tehri Garhwal Revenue Officials Act 1956.

Who are the key officials under the Uttarakhand revenue police system? 

The Patwari functions like a Police Sub-Inspector while the Naib Tehsildar is endowed with powers of a Deputy Superintendent of Police for carrying out police duties in notified rural areas under the revenue police system.

What is the current status of the Uttarakhand revenue police system? 

As of 2022, the revenue police system covers around 65% of Uttarakhand’s geographical area across 8 hill districts. But its legality has been challenged in courts and regular police is also expanding into remote rural areas.

What are the main arguments given in favor of the Uttarakhand revenue police system? 

Proponents argue that it enables localized, low-cost rural policing by utilizing personnel with intimate local knowledge. Critics cite lack of accountability, training and coordination issues.