Section 21: Powers of punishment

(1) Subject to the provisions of article 311 of the Constitution and the rules, the Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Principal of the Police Training College or of the Police Training School or any other officer of equivalent rank, may award to any police officer of subordinate rank any of the following punishments, namely:—

(a) dismissal;

(b) removal from service;

(c) reduction in rank;

(d) forfeiture of approved service;

(e) reduction in pay;

(f) withholding of increment; and

(g) fine not exceeding one months pay.

(2) Subject to the rules—

(a) any police officer specified in sub-section (1) may award the punishment of censure to any police officer of subordinate rank;

(b) the Assistant Commissioner of Police may award the punishment of censure to police officers of, or below, the rank of Sub-Inspectors of Police;

(c) any police officer of, and above, the rank of Inspector may award punishment drill not exceeding fifteen days or fatigue duty or any other punitive duty to constables.

(3) Nothing in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall affect any police officers liability for prosecution and punishment for any offence committed by him.

(4) The Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Principal of the Police Training College or of the Police Training School, Assistant Commissioner of Police, or any other police officer of equivalent rank may suspend any police officer of subordinate rank who is reasonably suspected to be guilty of misconduct, pending an investigation or enquiry into such misconduct.

(5) An Inspector of Police may suspend any police officer below the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police, who is reasonably suspected to be guilty of misconduct, pending an investigation or enquiry into such misconduct.