Maharashtra Police Act 1951
Section 25 :
Punishment of the members of the subordinate ranks of the Police Force departmentally for neglect of duty, etc :
1.[(1) The State Government or any officer authorised under sub-section (2), in that behalf, may impose upon an Inspector or any member of the subordinate ranks of the Police Force, who in the opinion of the State Government or such authorised officer, is cruel, perverse, remiss or negligent in, or unfit for, the discharge of his duties, any one or more of the following penalties, namely
(a) recovery from pay of the whole or part of any pecuniary loss caused to Government on account of the negligence or breach of orders on the part of such Inspector or any member of the subordinate rank of the Police Force;
(b) suspension;
(c) reduction in rank, grade or pay, or removal from any office of distinction or withdrawal of any special emoluments;
(d) compulsory retirement;
(e) removal from service which does not disqualify for future employment in any department other than the Police Department;
(f) dismissal which disqualifies for future employment in Government service:
Provided that, suspension of a police officer pending an inquiry into his conduct or investigation of a complaint against him of any criminal offence shall not be deemed to be a punishment under clause (b).
(1A) The State Government or any officer authorised under sub-section (2) in that behalf, may impose upon an Inspector or any member of the subordinate ranks of the Police Force, who is guilty of any breach of discipline or misconduct or of any act rendering him unfit for the discharge of his duty which, in the opinion of the State Government or of such authorised officer, is not of such nature as to call for imposition of any of the punishments referred to in sub-section (1), any one or more of the following punishments, namely
(a) warning;
(b) a reprimand (to be entered in his service book);
(c) extra drill;
(d) fine not exceeding one month’s pay;
(e) stoppage of increments :
Provided that, the punishment specified, –
(i) in clause (c), shall not be imposed upon any personnel above the rank of Constable;
(ii) in clause (d), shall not be imposed upon an Inspector.]
Punitive powers of 2.[Director-General and Inspector-General], Commissioner, Deputy Inspector-General 3.[(including Director of Police Wireless)] and 4.[Superintendent] 5.[and Principal of Training Institution]
6.[(2) (a) The Director General and Inspector General including Additional Director General, Special Inspector General, Commissioner including 18.[Special Commissioner], Joint Commissioner, Additional Commissioner and Deputy Inspector-General shall have authority to punish an Inspector or any member of the subordinate rank under sub-section (1) or (1A). A Superintendent shall have the like authority in respect of any police officer subordinate to him below the grade of Inspector and shall have powers to suspend an Inspector who is subordinate to him pending enquiry into a complaint against such Inspector and until an order of the Director-General and Inspector-General or Additional Director-General and Inspector-General and including the Director of Police Wireless and Deputy Inspector-General of Police can be obtained.]
(b) The Principal of 7.[a Police Training College] shall also have the like authority in respect of any member of the subordinate ranks of the Police Force below the grade of Inspector 8.[undergoing training at 9.[such 10.[College] or] serving under him], and in respect of head constables and constables belonging to the Police Force of 11.[the District in which such 10.[College] is situated] or of any other district attached to 9.[such 10.[College] for duty under him]. 12.[He may also suspend an Inspector who is 13.[undergoing training at 9.[such 10.[College] or] subordinate to him pending inquiry inters complaint against such Inspector] and until an order of the 14.[Director-General and Inspector-General] or Deputy 14.[Director-General and Inspector-General] can be obtained.]
15.[(ba) The Principal of a Police Training School shall have the like authority in respect of any member of the subordinate ranks of the Police Force below the grade of an Inspector, undergoing training at such school or serving under him, or attached to such school for duty under him.]
16.[(bb)***]
(c) The exercise of any power conferred by this sub-section shall be subject always to such rules and orders as may be made by the State Government in that behalf.
(3) Nothing in 17.[sub-sections (1), (1A)] and (2)-
(a) shall affect any Police Officer’s liability to a criminal prosecution for any offence with which he may be charged; or
(b) shall entitle any authority subordinate to that by which the Police Officer was appointed, to dismiss or remove him.
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1. Substituted by Maharashtra 40 of 2000, Section 6(1), (w.e.f.19-8-2000).
2. Substituted with effect from the 3th day of December, 1982 for the words ‘Inspector-General’ by Maharashtra 32 of 1987, Section 2.
3. Inserted by Maharashtra 24 of 1971, Section 5.
4. Substituted for the words ‘District Superintendent’ by Maharashtra 46 of 1962, Section 3, Schedule.
5. Inserted by Maharashtra 28 of 1964, Section 5(d).
6. Substituted by Maharashtra 40 of 2000, Section 6(2)(a), (w.e.f. 19-8-2000).
7. Substituted for the words ‘Police Training School’ by Maharashtra 28 of 1964, Section 5(a).
8. Inserted by Bombay 6 of 1955, Section 2(1).
9. Substituted for the words ‘the said school’ by Bombay 34 of 1959, Section 13(l)(d).
10. Substituted for the word ‘School’ by Maharashtra 28 of 1964, Section 5(a).
11. Substituted for the words ‘the Nasik District’ by Bombay 34 of 1959, Section 13(i)(c).
12. Deleted by Bombay 20 of 1953, Section 4(2) and again inserted by Bombay 28 of 1954, Section 5(3).
13. Inserted by Bombay 6 of 1955, Section 2(2).
14. Substituted with effect from the 13th day of December, 1982 for the words ‘Inspector-General’ by Maharashtra 32 of 1987, Section 2.
15. Substituted by Maharashtra 40 of 2000, Section 6(2)(b), (w.e.A 19-8-2000).
16. Deleted by Maharashtra 24 of 1971, Section 5(2).
17. Substituted by Maharashtra 40 of 2000, Section 6(2)(c), (w.e.f. 19-8-2000).
18. Inserted by Maharashtra act no 27 of 2023, Section 4 (w.e.f 4-1-2023).
