CONSTITUTION OF THE SIKKIM VIGILANCE POLICE FORCE

1. Constitution of the SVPF:

The Sikkim Vigilance Police Force was established by an Act of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly called the Sikkim Vigilance Police Act, 1978. The Act came into force w.e.f. the 26th October, 1978 (Home Department Notification No. 16(2) - Home/78). The purpose of the Government in creating, the SVPF was to enable and ensure an effective investigation of corruption cases both under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The classes of offences that may be investigated by the Sikkim Vigilance Police have been outlined vide Home Department Notification No. 16(2)- Home/78 dated 25th Nov. 1978. The office of the Sikkim Vigilance Police Force at Gangtok has been declared to be a Police Station with jurisdiction over the whole of Sikkim (Notification No. 16(2) –Home/ 78 dated 28th Nov. 1978). Vide Notification No. 16 (2) -Home/78 dated 25th Nov. 1978 officers in the SVPF not below the rank of Inspectors of Police, have also been authorised to investigate any offence punishable under sections 161, 165, 165 'A' IPC or under section 5 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and section 13 of the prevention of corruption Act, 1988 vide Notification No. 17/Home/2005 dated 23/02/2005 without the order of magistrate of the first class subject to the provision that offences referred to under section 5 (1) (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and section 13 (1) (e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 shall not be investigated without the order of a Police Officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police.