The Police Complaints Authority (PCA), under the Chairmanship of Justice P.S. Teji, former judge of the Delhi High Court, has disposed of 978 (40.08 percent) cases out of the total 2440 complaints received in 2021-2022.
As per its third annual report 2021-22, of the total 2440 complaints received in 2021-22, 334 were pending at initial stage, report was awaited from Delhi Police in 666 complaints, while 462 cases were currently under inquiry.
Senior government officials hailed the excellent work being done by the authority.
Extending his good wishes for the annual report 2021-22 and future endeavours as well, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said the Police Complaints Authority was working as a reform institution, aiming to address the grievances of common people, society at large and the citizens of Delhi.
The association was striving hard in its task and has managed to generate confidence among the people, he added.
Delhi Government Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar said PCA was working in the best possible way to deliver to the society and had won the confidence of people.
Ashwani Kumar, Principal Secretary, Home, Delhi government, said the PCA was acting on grievances of the public with respect to infringement by Police Officials.
He said during 2021-22, the authority had disposed of 978 complaints and he hoped that PCA would continue to fulfill its mandate and enforce the rule of law.
During 2020-2021, the PCA received total 2146 complaints and disposed of 1985 cases (92.49 percent) with 161 pending. The third annual report said that in 2019-2020, the first year of the PCA’s functioning, it received 1535 complaints of which 1327 cases (86.44 percent) were disposed of and 208 were pending.
The Police Complaints Authority was established to examine grievances and accusations against Delhi Police personnel on matters of custodial death, custodial rape, blackmailing or any serious abuse of power.
The PCA, with Justice PS Teji as its Chairman, inquired into the allegations of ’serious misconduct’ against police personnel, either suo motu or on a complaint received from a victim, the National Human Rights Commission, the Lieutenant-Governor, the Chief Secretary or the Principal Secretary (Home), GNCT of Delhi.
Justice Teji, the PCA Chairman, has been known for his legal acumen, especially in Criminal Jurisprudence. During his tenure at the Delhi High Court, he had an impressive rate of disposal of cases and there were about 300 reported judgments to his credit.
The PCA is currently working under the leadership of Justice PS Teji with three members, who are Nutan Guha Biswas, IAS (Retd), P. Kamaraj, IPS (Retd) and Tinu Bajwa.
Justice Teji was born on August 14, 1956 in Punjab, did his graduation from Faridkot, Post Graduation from Punjab University, Chandigarh and LLB (First Division) from Punjab University, Chandigarh.
In 1983, he started his career as an Advocate in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh. He represented the Union of India in Civil, Criminal, Land Acquisition and Service Matters, apart from representing the Chandigarh Administration to conduct criminal cases.
He was appointed Assistant Advocate General, Punjab from February 1991 to July 1993 and conducted Constitutional Law, Civil, Criminal and Service Law matters.
He joined the Delhi Higher Judicial Service in 1995 and presided over as Additional District Judge, Additional Sessions Judge, Special Judge (NDPS), Essential Commodity Act, CBI Trial, Presiding Officer Industrial Tribunal and in cases investigated by both DRI and Customs.
He was appointed as District Judge-cum-Special Judge, PC Act (CBI) in May 2009.
He became the District & Sessions Judge (East) and contributed substantially in various projects at Karkardooma Courts Complex, including the Construction and Distribution of 480 Lawyers Chambers, Construction and Function of 1st Paperless E-Court of India, Model Lock-up, First Child Witness Court of India and First Vulnerable Witness Examination Court till elevation to the High Court as an Additional Judge with effect from December 15, 2014. Justice Teji retired on August 13, 2018.
He was designated as Senior Advocate in September 2018 by the Apex Court. He became a member of the DIAC, the Arbitration Centre of Punjab and the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh.
He was appointed Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority on the recommendation of the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court on December 11, 2018 and he resumed the present office as Chairman on December 24, 2018.