Section 78 in The Himachal Pradesh Police Act, 2007
78. Investigation by District Police.
(1)There shall be a Criminal Investigation Unit in every Police Station for the investigation of serious offences as may be specified by the Director-General of Police, by regulations made from time to time, which shall include murder, kidnapping, sexual and unnatural offences, dacoity and dowry related offences, and offences other than serious offences may be investigated by other staff of the Police Station subject to the provisions of the Act and the rules made thereunder.(2)The Criminal Investigation Unit shall comprise of Investigating Officers who shall be Non-Gazetted Police Officers Grade-I and they shall be assisted by such number of Non-Gazetted Police Officers Grade-II as may be prescribed by the State Government or specified by the Director-General of Police by standing orders.(3)Non-Gazetted Police Officers posted in the Criminal Investigation Unit shall be selected on the basis of their aptitude, competence and integrity and shall form a sub-cadre for the purposes of postings:Provided that the State Government may prescribe periodical training and examinations for various Non-Gazetted ranks of the Criminal Investigation Unit and may frame rules for the organization and management of the sub-cadre.(4)Non-Gazetted Police Officers Grade-I posted in the Criminal Investigation Unit shall have a minimum tenure of 3 years and a maximum tenure of 5 years at a Police Station :Provided that an officer may be transferred before completion of tenure on promotion or reversion to a lower rank or if a charge-sheet has been served on him in a disciplinary case or charges in a criminal case has been framed against him in a Court of law or a criminal case is ordered to be registered by the District Superintendent of Police against him.(5)Within 3 years from the date of coming into force of this Act, the State Government shall create a separate cadre of Investigation Officers, and a separate cadre of Scene-of-Crime Officers who shall possess such qualifications in scientific investigation and forensic sciences as the State Government may prescribe, and Scene-of-Crime Officers shall be posted in every Police Station at District and Sub-Divisional Headquarters.(6)An Investigation Officer posted in a Criminal Investigation Unit shall not be assigned any work other than investigation and the investigation work of the Criminal Investigation Unit in the Police Station shall be supervised closely by the officer-in-charge of the Police Station. An officer assigned to a case shall not be changed unless he is suspended or transferred, or his ability to impartially investigate a case is under doubt or the officer is incapacitated. The officer-in-charge of the Police Station shall record the reasons in case investigation work is proposed to be reassigned and shall obtain the prior written approval of the District Superintendent of Police or Additional Superintendent of Police.(7)The Investigation Officer assigned to a case shall forthwith visit the scene of the crime and take steps in accordance with investigative procedures specified by the Director-General of Police, by standing orders. The officer-in-charge of the Police Station shall preferably the same day, but in any case within 48 hours, visit the scene of crime in all cases of serious offences and issue specific written directions for ensuring the speedy and fair investigation of the offence.
