Chandigarh, February 3
Don’t be surprised if a Punjab Police cop asks you to pay for the verification of your passport, new arms licence or even for issuing you a character certificate. He is officially authorised to do so.
In a recent circular to SSPs and DIGs (Ranges), Punjab DGP has authorised the police to charge the public in return for several services rendered; all this in the name of “facilitation charges”.
The circular, however, does not mention the state fund under which such charges will be deposited. If that was less, the circular states right in the beginning: “A proposal for necessary approval has been sent to the government. In the meantime all community policing resource centres are authorised to collect facilitation charges for the services provided as under.” Normally, such exaction of money from public should have come only after the prior sanction of law.
That apart, passport verification by Punjab Police will now cost Rs 100, so will other passport-related services, including enquiries about loss of passport abroad.
Costlier will be the verification for a new arms licence, for which the police can charge Rs 500. Verification for renewal of arms licence “and other services” (circular doesn’t specify) will cost Rs 200.
And that’s not all, verification for registration of a vehicle will cost Rs 100 each, so will the issuance of no objection certificate (NOC) in case of stolen/recovered vehicles.
Interestingly, Punjab Police considers it a “service” even to grant
permission for fairs/exhibition and use of loudspeakers/ orchestras on social functions. For each of these services, it can charge Rs 50.
The costliest among the 10 services listed in the circular (letter number 2225/54 dated September, 2007) is the issuance of NOC in matters pertaining to public safety/nuisance. Each NOC for opening a petrol pump, marriage palace or hotel can now cost Rs 1,000. The cost will be half (Rs 500) for renewal of licences to cinema owners, video parlours etc.
The most interesting of categories of “services” in the circular is “police clearance certificates”. Under this one, the police can ask you for Rs 200 each for rendering “services” like verifying your character; stranger verification, even tenant and servant verification.
Issuance of a copy of any document (like an FIR) will also cost Rs 50 each. And if you want a certified copy of any document, be ready to shell out Rs 100.
This circular was received here on January 26 by H.C. Arora, who had posted a related query to public information officer at Punjab Police headquarters. Though the police sources today said the money was being charged for “extra services” rendered, point is such exaction from public must come with sanction of law. Punjab DGP’s directions allowed the police to charge money even before the government approval for the proposal had been sought. Most districts have already started collecting facilitation charges, especially for arms licence and stranger verifications.
Never mind a 2003 Supreme Court judgement, which observes: Howsoever laudable the purpose of a levy may be, a levy which has no sanction of law, can not be validated by a court of law.” In another 1971 judgement, the SC held that a tax can not be levied through administrative instructions.
