The Police Act, 1861

The following words and expressions in this Act shall have themeaning assigned to them, unless there be something in the subject or context repugnant to suchconstruction, that is to say-- the words "Magistrate of the district" shall mean the chief officer charged with the executiveadministration of a district and exercising the powers of a Magistrate, by whatever designation thechief officer charged with such executive administration is styled: the word " Magistrate" shall include all persons within the general police-district, exercising all orany of the power of a Magistrate: the word "police" shall include all persons who shall be enrolled under this Act: the words "general police-district" shall embrace any1 presidency, 2[State] or place, or any part ofany presidency, 3[State] or place, in which this Act shall be ordered to take effect: 4[the words "District Superintendent" and "District Superintendent of Police" shall include anyAssistant District Superintendent or other person appointed by general or special order of the 5[State]Government] to perform all or any of the duties of a District Superintendent of Police under this Actin any district:] the word "property" shall include any moveable property money, or valuable security: 6* * * * * the word "person" shall include a company or corporation: the word "month" shall mean a calendar month: 7the word "cattle" shall, besides horned cattle, include elephants, camels, horses, asses, mules,sheep, goats and swine. 8[References to the subordinate ranks of a police force shall be construed as references to membersof that force below the rank of Deputy Superintendent.]

22. Constitution of the forces.-- The entire police-establishment under a 1[State Government] shallfor the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be one 3police force, and shall be formally enrolled; andshall consist of such number of officers and men, and shall be constituted in such manner, 4*** asshall from time to time be ordered by the 1[State Government] 5***. 6[Subject to the provisions of this Act the pay and all other conditions of service of members ofthe subordinate ranks of any police force shall be such as may-be determined by the 2[State]Government.]

Superintendence in the 1[State Government].--The superintendence of the police throughouta general police-district shall vest in and 2*** shall be exercised by the 1[State Government] to whichsuch district is subordinate; and except as authorised under the provisions of this Act, no person,officer, or Court shall be empowered by the 1[State Government] to 3*** supersede, or control anypolice functionary.

1The administration of the police throughout the generalpolice district shall be vested in an officer to be styled the Inspector-General of Police, and in such Deputy Inspectors-General and Assistant Inspectors-General as to the 2[State Government] shall beenseem fit. The administration of the police throughout the local jurisdiction of the Magistrate of the districtshall, under the general control and direction of such Magistrate, be vested in a District Superintendentand such Assistant District Superintendents as the 2[State Government] shall consider necessary. 3* * * * *

The Inspector-General of Police shallhave the full powers of a Magistrate throughout the general police-district; but shall exercise thosepowers subject to such limitation as may from time to time be imposed by the 1[State Government.]