Govt orders removal of check gates, barring interstate gates

In a major development, the State government has ordered immediate removal of all police check gates, barring the interstate check gates.
In a notification issued through the home commissioner, the government has also ordered immediate removal of those check gates set up by other departments, including municipal and town councils, except the interstate check gates that could function up to May 31, 2022. The interstate check gates could function beyond that date only after obtaining a specific approval from the Home Department.
The order stated that this was done in view of reports of alleged illegal collection of money from vehicles at various check gates by organisations, groups, government agencies, private individuals, etc, and with a view to prevent and curb such illegal collections by any entity or individual.
The order ruled that if any organisation, group or private individual, had been set-up a check gate anywhere in the State or kept it functioning for whatsoever reasons, that would also be removed/closed forthwith.
And in the event of additional inter or intra-district check gates required for unavoidable reasons by any department, including the police, in any part of the State, the matter would be referred through the AHoD/HoD concerned with justifications to the Home Department for consideration. And only after getting prior approval, the check gate would be set up by the department concerned.
Further, after closing the check gate at any location, every department concerned shall have to dismantle and completely remove any temporary structure/building standing at the location.
As per the order, the deputy commissioner (DC) in every district will constitute an “Inspection Team” comprising the ADC(Hq), Addl SP/ Addl DCP, DTO and DPRO, which shall be responsible for ensuring that there is no check gate functional on any road in the district.
The team will submit detailed report of every inspection being made to the DC for perusal and for taking action as required. The DC through the DPRO will ensure that the observations and findings of the inspection team and the actions taken, if any, are given wide publicity.
The Home Department will also be sending team of officers from the Secretariat to inspect the check gates from time to time. The department concerned may also regularly send their officers to inspect the check gates and submit reports to the department.
PHQ will set up a 24×7 control room and share widely the contact mobile number with WhatsApp facility and an email ID, inviting people without requiring the person concerned to reveal his/her identity, if he/she so desires, to share any report/information or make a complaint regarding illegal collection of money from vehicles at any check gate or at other locations.
Besides passing on the information/complaint to the inspection team of the district, the control room, to be manned by sufficient personnel headed by a senior officer, will also give immediate instructions for taking appropriate actions. A fortnightly report of the calls received and action taken by the control room will be made available to the Home Department for perusal.
If any unauthorised check gate is functional and, in the event of any such gate being found, all the persons manning the gates shall be prosecuted under sections 188 and 384 IPC.
Disciplinary proceedings shall also be initiated by the department concerned against the government servants found involved, if any.