Section 17. Control, Supervision and Direction of Police Force in a Police circle.

(1) The State Government may appoint an officer not below the rank of Deputy superintendent of Police to be the In-charge of a Police circle: Provided that in a metropolitan area, the In-charge of a Police circle shall be designated as Assistant Commissioner of Police and references to officer in- charge of a Police circle in this Act shall, in relation to a metropolitan area, be construed accordingly. (2) The power of control, supervision and direction of the Police Force in a Police circle shall, subject to the overall control of the Director General of Police, vest in the officer in-charge of a police circle. (3) The officer in-charge of a Police circle shall have a minimum tenure of two years. (4) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (3), officer in-charge of a Police circle may be removed from his post before the expiry of the said tenure by the State Government consequent upon:- (a) his conviction by the court in a criminal offence or where charges have been framed by the court in a case involving corruption or moral turpitude: (b) his punishment of dismissal, removal, or compulsory retirement from service or of reduction to a lower rank, awarded under the provisions of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1967 or any other relevant laws; (c) his suspension from service in accordance with the provisions of the rules referred to in clause (b); (d) his incapacity in the discharge of functions due to physical or mental illness; (e) his own request; or (f) his administrative exigency which shall be recorded in writing