1 minAct/Law
Act/Law

Police Powers and Jurisdiction

What is Police Powers and Jurisdiction?

Police Powers are the inherent authority of a government to impose restrictions on private rights for the sake of protecting the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of its citizens. Jurisdiction refers to the geographical area or subject matter over which a police force has authority.

Historical Background

Police powers are derived from the concept of state sovereignty and are essential for maintaining law and order. The specific powers and jurisdiction of the police are defined by various laws and regulations.

Key Points

7 points
  • 1.

    Derived from the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution (State List)

  • 2.

    Police have the power to investigate crimes, arrest suspects, and maintain public order

  • 3.

    Jurisdiction is typically limited to a specific geographical area (e.g., a state or district)

  • 4.

    Police powers are subject to constitutional limitations, including fundamental rights

  • 5.

    Police actions must be reasonable and proportionate

  • 6.

    Police are accountable to the law and can be held liable for misconduct

  • 7.

    Various laws, such as the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), define police powers and procedures

Recent Developments

5 developments
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Debates on police reforms and accountability

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Use of technology in policing (e.g., CCTV surveillance, data analytics)

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Concerns about police brutality and human rights violations

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Efforts to improve community policing and public trust

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Challenges in policing cybercrime and online offenses

This Concept in News

1 topics

Delhi Assembly escalates Atishi video row, seeks Punjab Police FIR details

15 Feb 2026

The news highlights the aspect of jurisdictional limits on police powers. The Delhi Assembly's attempt to seek information from Punjab Police underscores the principle that police powers are generally confined to their respective state boundaries. This news event applies the concept of jurisdiction in practice by demonstrating the potential conflicts that can arise when state legislatures attempt to exert authority over police forces in other states. The news reveals the complexities of federalism and the division of powers between states in India. The implications of this news are that it could lead to a clarification of the powers and responsibilities of state legislatures in relation to police forces in other states. Understanding police powers and jurisdiction is crucial for properly analyzing and answering questions about this news because it provides the legal and constitutional context for understanding the dispute between the Delhi Assembly and the Punjab Police. It helps to assess the legitimacy of the Delhi Assembly's demands and the legal obligations of the Punjab Police.

Source Topic

Delhi Assembly escalates Atishi video row, seeks Punjab Police FIR details

Polity & Governance

UPSC Relevance

Relevant for UPSC GS Paper 2 (Governance) and GS Paper 3 (Internal Security). Understanding police powers and jurisdiction is crucial for analyzing issues related to law enforcement, criminal justice, and human rights.

This Concept in News

1 news topics

1

Delhi Assembly escalates Atishi video row, seeks Punjab Police FIR details

15 February 2026

The news highlights the aspect of jurisdictional limits on police powers. The Delhi Assembly's attempt to seek information from Punjab Police underscores the principle that police powers are generally confined to their respective state boundaries. This news event applies the concept of jurisdiction in practice by demonstrating the potential conflicts that can arise when state legislatures attempt to exert authority over police forces in other states. The news reveals the complexities of federalism and the division of powers between states in India. The implications of this news are that it could lead to a clarification of the powers and responsibilities of state legislatures in relation to police forces in other states. Understanding police powers and jurisdiction is crucial for properly analyzing and answering questions about this news because it provides the legal and constitutional context for understanding the dispute between the Delhi Assembly and the Punjab Police. It helps to assess the legitimacy of the Delhi Assembly's demands and the legal obligations of the Punjab Police.