Lok Sabha Question No. 1760 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-04
Subject: Restructuring of RPF
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1760 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.05.2016

## RESTRUCTURING OF RPF

1760.   SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

- (a)  whether  the  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF)  and  policing  in  the Railways badly need restructuring and revamping and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether RPF requires more legal support to tackle the menace of crime in the railway network; and

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (c) if so, the steps taken by the Railways in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

ANSWER (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1760 BY SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN TO BE ANSWERED  IN LOK SABHA ON 04.05.2016 REGARDING RESTRUCTURING OF RPF

(a) to (c): Prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law and order in Railway premises as well as on running  trains  are  the  statutory  responsibility  of  the  States  which  is being  discharged  by  them  through  the  Government  Railway  Police (GRP).  Besides  sharing  50%  cost  on  GRPs  with  respective  States. Railways, through the Railway Protection Force (RPF), are supplementing efforts of  States  to  ensure  security  of  passengers  and passenger area. In addition, concerned District Police is responsible for security of tracks, bridges, tunnels and law & order issues.

In view of multiplicity of law enforcement agencies, overlapping of role and responsibilities of these agencies, problem of inter-State coordination, duplicity of manpower & resources, some times there is confusion  among  travelling  passengers  with  regard  to  registration  of First Information Report (FIR), etc.

RPF  has  been  entrusted  with  the  responsibility  of  protection  and security of passengers and passenger area, with the amendments in the RPF Act and the Railways Act in the year 2003, without commensurate legal  powers,  which  is  proving  a  major  hindrance  in  controlling  crime against  passengers.  RPF  needs  legal  powers  to  deal  with  passenger related  offences  to  strengthen  security  of  passengers  and  passenger area over Indian Railways.

A  proposal  for  amendment  in  the  RPF  Act,  1957,  to  empower  RPF  to deal with passenger related offences in the passenger area, has been moved by the Ministry of Railways with the concurrence of Ministries of Law  and  Justice and Home  Affairs. As advised by the Cabinet Secretariat,  comments  of  States  have  been  solicited  on  the  above proposal.  Comments  have  so  far  been  received  from  26  States.  18 States/Union Territories (UT) have opposed the move to amend the RPF Act, 07 States/UT have given their consent, 01 UT has not offered any comment  and  reply  is  awaited  from  06  States.  However,  Ministry  of Home Affairs  has  recently  conveyed  their  opposition  to  the  proposed amendments in the RPF Act. Matter is being further considered in the Ministry of Railways.

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