Department of Home (Kerala)
Indian State Government Department
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Home Department (Malayalam: ആഭ്യന്തര വകുപ്പ്) is an administrative department of the Government of Kerala. It plays a key role in maintenance of law and order in the state of Kerala. The department oversees the maintenance of law and order, prevention and control of crime, prosecution of criminals, administration of civil and criminal justice, besides dealing with fire services and prisons administration.
- Ground Floor, Main Block, Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram
- Ramesh Chennithala, Minister for Home and Vigilance
| ആഭ്യന്തര വകുപ്പ്, കേരളം | |
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| Department overview | |
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| Formed | November 1, 1956 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Kerala |
| Headquarters |
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Minister responsible |
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Department executive |
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Child agencies | |
| Website | kerala |
The department is also responsible for the functioning of State Police, Prisons and Correctional Services, Fire and Rescue Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards. The department is also the cadre controlling authority of Indian Police Service (IPS) (Kerala Cadre) and Kerala Police Service (KPS). The Chief Minister generally serves as the departmental minister, and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home & Vigilance), an IAS officer, is the administrative head of the department.[2][3] Ramesh Chennithala is the current Home Minister of Kerala.[4]
Leadership and administration
The Home Department is headed by the Minister for Home, who is a political appointee responsible for making policy decisions and providing strategic direction. The minister in charge of the home department is Shri Ramesh Chennithala, the Minister of Home Affairs and Vigilance. Assisting the Minister is the Additional Chief Secretary (Home & Vigilance), a senior IAS officer, also known as Home Secretary, who handles the day-to-day administrative affairs of the department.[5]
The Home Department is organised into 21 sections, namely A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, PS, Attestation, SC, SSA, and SSB, each handling specific administrative and functional subjects.[6] Each section is headed by an Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary, or Under Secretary, depending on the nature of work. They are responsible for handling specific subjects such as police administration, prisons, fire and rescue services, prosecution, administration of civil and criminal justice, and internal security.[7]
The hierarchy within the Secretariat is as follows:
Additional Chief Secretary (or Principal Secretary), Special Secretary, Additional Secretary, Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretary, followed by Section Officers and other supporting staff.
Functions
- Law and Order[6]
- Police
- Criminal Investigation (Crime Branch)
- Prosecution
- VIP Security
- Arms, and Ammunition Act
- Explosives
- Delhi Special Police Establishment Act
- TADA (Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act)
- Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory
- Public Safety
- Internal security
- Civil defence and Homeguards
- Fire and Rescue Services
- Censorship
- Administration of Justice
- All matters relating to the administration of justice, including civil and criminal law, and the constitution and organisation of courts (except the High Court), as well as matters relating to the offices and staff of the High Court.
- Prisons
- Administration of jails
- Department of Prisons and Correctional Services
- Foreigners, Passport and Visa
Line Departments / Directorates
The following departments and agencies function under the administrative control of the Home Department:
- Kerala Police Department
- Kerala Fire and Rescue Services
- Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services
- Kerala Civil Defence and Homeguards
- Directorate of Prosecution
- Chemical Examiners Laboratory
- Kerala State Forensic Science Laboratory
All these departments are inter-linked and co-ordinated by the Home department.[8][9][10]
Heads of Departments (HODs)
| Position | Incumbent | Department |
|---|---|---|
| DGP & State Police Chief, Kerala | Ravada Chandrashekhar IPS | Kerala Police |
| Additional Director General of Fire and Rescue Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards | Balramkumar Upadya IPS | Kerala Fire and Rescue Services |
| Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services | S.Sreejith IPS ADGP | Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services |
| Director General of Prosecution | Adv. TA Shaji | Directorate of Prosecution |
| Chairman and Managing Director | S.Shyamsunder IPS IGP[11] | Kerala Police Housing & Construction Corporation |
| Chief Chemical Examiner | N.K.Renjith[12] | Chemical Examiners Laboratory |
Statutory bodies
- Statutory institutions
- Kerala State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA)
- District Police Complaints Authorities (DPCAs)[13]
- Public sector undertakings
- Kerala Police Housing & Construction Corporation Ltd.
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