The Railway Protection Force Act has been incorporated on 29th August, 1957. This Act has been established in support of the Constitution of India and to regulate the Armed Force of the Union for efficient protection and strict security upon railway property.
The Railway protection force is formed to entrust for the protection of railway passenger, passenger area and property of our Indian Railways. It also ensures the safety of the passenger and also boosts up the public to travel in Indian Railways. This Security force is commonly known as RPF. The Watch and Ward force were functioning under the Railway administration, that inturn changed into RPF consisting of effective powers to perform such functions under the provisions of this Act.
Inorder to constitute the force, the Central Government have given enormous powers to higher level to lower level Officers who were appointed in pursuance to this Act for better protection and security of Railway Property as prescribed under this Act. Those Officers includes the Director-General of Police, Inspector-General, Senior Commandant, etc. Their Payment of remunerations and other benefits if any shall be made as prescribed under the provision of this Act.
The Appointment of members who are enrolled to RPF shall be in the hands of Inspector-General, Additional Inspector-General and Deputy Inspector General by an Order. The Officers who are appointed shall receive a Certificate of Appointment with a Seal of the Inspector General of Police or such other Officer who are Competent to perform this function. These Officers who receives such Certificate shall be ceased from members at any time as it may deem necessary under the provisions of this Act.
The Central Government holding the superintendence power and delegate the Commanding, supervision and management of force to the Director General of Police. The other Officers such as Inspector General of Police, Assistant General of police, etc, shall perform all other functions as prescribed under the provisions of this Act. The Central Government shall subject to the Article under Constitution of India make such Superior Officer to Dismiss or remove the enrolled Officer in force. If such Superior Officer finds any such Officer enrolled is performing in careless and negligent manner shall be dismissed or removed from services in a manner prescribed under the provision of this Act. These irresponsible Officers who fail to perform their functions duly shall be penalized with imprisonment with or without fine as prescribed under this Act. All the above appointed Officers shall be considered as a railway servant under the Indian Railway Act, 1890.
In case of any cognizable Offences committed by any person or any other criminal Offence such as assault, causing injury or wrongful restrain, etc, or attempt to commit such criminal Offences or threatening to commit and in case of any suspicion of such person, shall be arrested without prior warrant from the magistrate who has the jurisdiction to entertain such matter. In some cases where it is deemed necessary the Officers shall on suspicion of any Offence committed by any person, search in their places without any warrant issued from the Magistrate. Officers shall search, investigate, seize and even arrest such person if he is found doing any offence of found to be guilt of such offence committed by them. All action with regard to these Provisions shall be subject to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
The Officers and employees who are in force under this Act shall always be liable to work only in railways. No Officers or employees shall without the written consent from the Central Government shall form an association or work or be a member of any other associations, firms, Unions, etc. In case of any Officers under suspicion shall not be in force for that time period and such Officer shall be penalized as other persons as prescribed by this Act.
In case if any Officer ceased to be from force due to any such reason in violation of any provisions of this Act or resigned or dismissed, etc, shall surrender his Certificate of Appointment, weapons if any, etc to the superior Officer in force. The Central Government shall have enormous powers to make any number of rules and regulations in pursuance to this Act as prescribed under the provisions of this Act. No suits or any legal proceedings shall be taken against any action done by any such Officer in pursuance to this Act in good faith. This Act came across several amendments inorder serve in a better manner.
by C.Srivenkatesh Prabhu.