Maharashtra citizens to pay for police protection | Fusion - WeRIndia

Last Thursday, a new policy was unveiled by the Maharashtra government and the Bombay high court regarding people’s rights to police safety.

Now, private citizens who face threats to their life will have to pay ₹1 lakh per month for their police protection.

According to Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, an advocate general, a person is not entitled to police protection as a matter of right, but it is not a commodity which can be purchased or a service that can be availed by the person’s payment.

Therefore, a committee will be headed by the superintendent or commissioner of police to make the decision as to whether or not a private citizen should or should not be provided with free police protection.

The policy says that deserving people who cannot afford to pay the fee should not be denied their security. However, if private citizens can afford to pay the fee, then they will be charged.

The government circular stated that, if taxpayers’ money can be used for the grant of this protection, and thus, cause a drain on the public exchequer, then the people who can afford this fee should instead pay it for their police protection.

According to the policy, charged will be calculated as per a formula, which takes into consideration both the pay scale and the allowances of the policemen who will be providing the protection.

The formula states that the monthly fees will be ₹ 95,418 per constable and ₹ 1.02 lakh per police naik, and there will be extra charges levied if a police vehicle is provided.

Citizens will not be charged any protection fee if they have a monthly income of less than ₹ 50,000.

Elected representatives and government officials will not be charged with the protection fee, and security cover will not be provided to private citizens with criminal antecedents.

Applications of persons with criminal records will instead be decided on a case to case basis.

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Image Reference: https://pixabay.com/it/photos/polizia-sicurezza-protezione-869216/