PUNJAB CRIMINAL PROSECUTION SERVICE INSPECTORATE ACT 2018

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THE PUNJAB CRIMINAL PROSECUTION SERVICE 
INSPECTORATE ACT 2018 
(XX of 2018) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, commencement and extent 
2. Definitions 
3. The Inspectorate 
4. Functions of the Inspectorate  
5. Powers to summon record 
6. Superintendence of the Inspectorate 
7. Director General 
8. Inspection programme 
9. Annual report 
10. Power to make rules 
11. Removal of difficulties  
12. Indemnity 
13. Savings  
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB CRIMINAL PROSECUTION SERVICE INSPECTORATE ACT 
2018 
(XX of 2018) 
[24th May, 2018] 
An 
Act 
to introduce an effective system of monitoring and inspection of  the Punjab Criminal 
Prosecution Service. 
It is necessary to introduce an effective system of monitoring and inspection of the 
Punjab Crimi nal Prosecution Service through an Inspectorate; and, to provide for 
matters ancillary thereto; 
Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows:– 
1. Short title, commencement and extent .– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service Inspectorate Act 2018. 
(2) It shall come into force at once. 
(3) It shall extend to whole of the Punjab. 
2. Definitions.– (1) In this Act: 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service 
Inspectorate Act 2018; 
(b) “data” includes any informat ion in soft or hard form relating to 
investigation and prosecution of a criminal case; 
(c) “Director General” means the Director General of the 
Inspectorate appointed under the Act; 
(d) “Directorate” means the Directorate General of Monitoring and 
Evaluation, Punjab Public Prosecution Department; 
(e) “Government” means Government of the Punjab;  
(f) “Inspectorate” means the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service 
Inspectorate established under the Act; 
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules; 
(h) “record” includes the report of a p olice officer, opinion of a 
prosecutor or proceedings taken by him in a criminal case, 
proceedings taken by a parole officer or a copy of an order or 
judgment passed by a court; 
(i) “rules” means the rules made under the Act; and 
                                                           
1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 16 May 2018; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 21 
May 2018; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 24 May 2018, pp.8129-8131. 
(j) “Service” means the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service. 
(2) A word or expression used in the Act but not defined shall have the 
same meaning as is assigned to it in the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (V of 
1898) or, as the case may be, the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, 
Functions and Powers) Act 2006 (III of 2006). 
3. The Inspectorate .– (1) The Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, reconstitute the Directorate as the Punjab Criminal Pr osecution Service 
Inspectorate. 
(2) Subject to subsection (3),  the Inspectorate shall consist of a Director 
General, a Director, Chief Inspectors, Inspectors and such other employees as may 
be prescribed and, until so prescribed, as the Government may determine. 
(3) Not less than one half of employees of the Inspecto rate connected with 
inspection shall be persons who have been public prosecutors for a minimum period 
of three years. 
4. Functions of the Inspectorate.– The Inspectorate shall: 
(a) monitor the performance, work and conduct of the Service; 
(b) carry out periodic inspections of the Service;   
(c) advise the Government on improvement of the Service; 
(d) cause studies and research on the working of the Service for purposes 
of reforms of the Service; 
(e) take steps and measures to improve efficiency of the Service; and 
(f) perform such  other connected functions as are assigned to it by the 
Government or as are necessary for carryi ng out the purposes of the 
Act. 
5. Powers to summon record .– (1) The Inspectorate may, for effective and 
meaningful inspection of the Service, require any info rmation or record maintained 
by: 
 (a) an investigation agency; 
(b) an agency or a department of the Government empowered to sanction 
prosecution under the law;  
(c) the Punjab Forensic Science Agency; 
(d) prisons in the Province; and 
(e) the Directorate of Reclamation and Parole. 
 (2) Every agency or department of the Government shall extend 
cooperation and assistance to the Inspectorate in the discharge of its functions under 
the Act or the rules and supply information or record in such form a nd manner as 
may be prescribed. 
 (3) The Inspectorate and its employees shall cooperate with any other 
body or organization established by the Government for conduct of inspection of the 
Service. 
6. Superintendence of the Inspectorate .– The superintendence and control of 
the Inspectorate shall vest in the Government and shall be exercised in the manner 
prescribed. 
7. Director General .– (1) The Government shall appoint the Director General 
who shall have such qualifications and experience and shall be appointed on such 
terms and conditions as may be prescribed and, until so prescribed, as the 
Government may determine. 
 (2) The Director General shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Inspectorate and unless sooner removed in the prescribed manner, hold office for a 
period of three years or for such further period as the Government may, in the light of 
the satisfactory performance, determine.  
(3)  The Director General shall exercise such powers and perform such 
functions as may be prescribed or assigned to him by the Go vernment and be 
responsible for running day to day affairs of the Inspectorate. 
8. Inspection programme.–(1) The Inspectorate may prepare a programme for 
periodic inspection of the Service in such manner as may be prescribed.  
 (2) The Director General shall cause a copy of the inspection report sent to 
the Government and to the Prosecutor General for appropriate action. 
 (3) When an inspection has been carried out on the request of any other 
agency or department of the Government, a copy of the inspection report shall be 
sent to the head of that agency or department. 
9. Annual report .– The Director General shall, by 30 th September each year, 
submit annual performance report to the Government inter alia showing all the major 
activities performed by the Inspe ctorate during the previous financial year and its 
future plans and the Government shall lay it before the Provincial Assembly of the 
Punjab. 
10. Power to make rules.– The Government may make rules for carrying out the 
purposes of the Act. 
11. Removal of difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to or applying 
the provisions of this Act or the rules, the Government may, within two years from 
the commencement of the Act, make such order, not inconsistent with the Act or the 
rules, as may be necessary for removal of such difficulty. 
12. Indemnity.– No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings, shall lie against 
an officer of the Inspectorate in respect of anything done or attempted to be done by 
him in good faith under the Act. 
13. Savings.– All appointments made, actions taken and notifications issued by 
the Government before the commencement of this Act, with respect to the 
Directorate, shall be deemed to have been made, taken and issued under the Act.