Lok Sabha Question No. 1968 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Irregularities in Police Department
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Adoor Prakash, Hibi Eden, N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1968

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  MARCH, 2020/PHALGUNA 13, 1941 (SAKA)

IRREGULARITIES IN POLICE DEPARTMENT

1968.

ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

SHRI HIBI EDEN:

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  C&AG  report  has  revealed  serious lapses  of  police  department  in  Kerala  including  loss  of  rifles,  cartridges  and diversion of fund for police modernization;

- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c)  whether the Government has conducted any inquiry/received any request for inquiry into the incident and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  details  of  funds  provided  to  the  State  of  Kerala  for  police  modernization during the last three years and the current year; and
- (e)  the  details  of  funds  utilized  during  the  above  mentioned  period  along  with instances  of  misutilization  of  funds,  if  any  and  the  steps  taken  for  ensuring transparency and accountability in the utilisation of funds?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a)  to  (c)  The  Comptroller  and  Auditor  General  (CAG),  in  its  Performance  Audit Report for Kerala for the year ended 31.3.2018 has observed shortage of physical stock  of  Twenty  five  5.56  mm  INSAS  rifles  and  12,061  live  cartridges  in  the Special  Armed  Police  Battalion,  Thiruvananthapuram  and    diversion  of  fund  for police  modernization  for  purchase  of luxury  vehicles.  Since  'Police' and 'Public

## LS.US.Q.NO.1968 FOR 03.03.2020

Order' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India, the matter essentially lies within the purview of the Government of Kerala.

(d)  &  (e)  Despite  Police  being  a  State  subject,  to  supplement  the  efforts  of  the States  for  equipping  and  modernizing  of  their  police  forces,  under  the  centrally sponsored scheme of 'Assistance to States for Modernization of Police' {erstwhile scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)}, the States have been provided central assistance for police modernization of State Forces. To curb irregularities/misutilization,  the  office  of  Comptroller  and  Auditor  General  (CAG) regularly audits expenditure under the scheme at the end of police directorates which  are  submitted  to  the  competent  legislatures.  In  addition,  the  Ministry  of Home Affairs conducts Concurrent Audit of the scheme and release of funds has been linked with submission of Action Taken Report (ATR) on the observations of concurrent audit reports by the State Governments. The details of central funds allocated  and  released  to  the  Government  of  Kerala  and  utilized  by  the  State Government for police modernization under the scheme of 'Assistance to States for Modernization of Police' during the last three years and the current year are as below:

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## LS.US.Q.NO.1968 FOR 03.03.2020

(in Rs. crore)

| Year           | Year                                | 2016-17              | 2017-18                | 2018-19                          | 2019-20*                         |
|----------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------|------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| Allocation     | To State Government                 | 12.93                | 17.48                  | 15.27                            | 16.11                            |
| Allocation     | For release in kind                 | 2.01                 | 2.20                   | 2.17                             | Nil                              |
| Allocation     | TOTAL                               | 14.94                | 19.68                  | 17.44                            | 16.11                            |
| Release        | Against allocation                  | 8.23                 | 12.78                  | 14.51                            | 11.39                            |
| Release        | For supply in kind                  | 2.01                 | 2.20                   | 2.17                             | Nil                              |
| Release        | Fund for Student Police Cadet (SPC) | 0.85                 | 1.1447                 | 1.104                            | Nil                              |
| Release        | TOTAL                               | 11.09                | 16.1247                | 17.784                           | 11.39                            |
| Funds utilized |                                     | 11.09 (entire funds) | 16.1247 (entire funds) | Utilization Certificates not due | Utilization Certificates not due |

*release position as on 27.02.2020