Home Department is responsible for the administration of Police, Subordinate work, Prisons and Transport in the State. The basic objective of the Department is to formulate policies, Laws, regularities for the effective criminal justice and implementation of Law and order in the State.

This Department is one of the oldest Departments existing in the State. According to the allocation of subjects as per Business Rules, this Department has been allocated with the following items of work.

The following Departments / Wings are functioning under the administrative control of Home Department.

1. Police

2. Fire and Rescue Services

3. Forensic Sciences

4. Prisons

5. Transport

6. Courts

7. Cinemas

8. Citizenship

9. Prosecution

The gist of activities in the above Departments is given below -

POLICE

Establishment and Service matters of Police Personnels - Recruitment and Administration of Police Force – Issue of Gun Licence under Arms Act – Opening of Police Station – Matters relating to Home Department – Railway Security – Verification of character and antecendents of candidates for recruitment to Central Government and its undertakings – Control of Nuisance under Nuisance Act.

FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

Recruitment and administration of Fire Service Force – Opening of Fire and Rescue Station.

FORENSIC SCIENCE

Administration and Service matters of Forensic Science Department.

PRISONS

Administration of Jail Department – Release of prisoners under parole – Premature release – Remission and reduction of sentence – Opening of Jails.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

Buildings – Staff and other required infra structure for smooth function of the judiciary – Constitution of Civil and Criminal Courts – Matters relating to Lotteries – Family Courts – Provision of Legal Aid – Matters relating to Marriage Acts – Matters relating to Dowry Prohibition Act. Control over the proper conduct of Prosecution-Monitor the functioning of the Law Officers and Prosecuting Staff.

TRANSPORT

All matters relating to Mini Bus Schemes- Taxation-Inter State Route Scheme – Sanction of fund under Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund – Traffic Control Act - Road Safety measurers – Issue of Fancy Numbers – Matters relating to Mini Bus – Contract carriages – Stage Carriages – Goods Vehicles – Opening of Check Post – Administration of Transport Department.

CINEMAS

Proper maintenance of cinema theatres with basic amenities – Curbing Video Piracy – Regulating the exhibition of films on Television Screen through Video Cassette Recorders. Regulating the operation of Cable Television Networks in the State.

CITIZENSHIP

Grants, extension of Stay to Pakistan/Bangladesh Pakhtoon Nationals – Police Clearance Certificate issued to Indian Nationals to go abroad for employment etc. The legal dues/death compensation of the workers who die in Foreign countries- Certificate for No Obligation to return to India for those who are staying in U.S.A.

PROSECUTION

The Directorate of Prosecution has been established in the State during 1995 to have an overall control and supervision of the Prosecuting Officers working in the courts.

PROHIBITION AND EXCISE WING

The Constitution of India under Entries 8 and 51 of the State List of the Seventh Schedule provides powers to the State Government with regard to the manufacture, possession, transport, purchase and sale of intoxicating liquors and for levying duties of excise on alcoholic liquors for human consumption. The Excise Policy of the State has been pursued for 21 years without any chan-ge.

DEPARTMENT OF PROHIBITION AND EXCISE – ORGANISATION AND FUNCTIONS

The following are the four wings functioning under the administrative control of the Home, Prohibition and Excise Department of Tamil Nadu.

1. The Commissionerate of Prohibition and Excise

2. The Prohibition Enforcement Wing

3. The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC)

4. The Narcotics Intelligence Bureau(NIB)

(1)COMMISSIONERATE OF PROHIBITION AND EXCISE

The Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise enforces the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act 1937, and the Rules made there under.

(2)PROHIBITION ENFORCEMENT WING

The Prohibition Enforcement Wing PEW is functioning with avowed objective of eradicating illicit distillation, transportation, possession and sale of illicit liquor and preventing smuggling of spurious liquor and unexcised I.M.F.S.

3) TAMIL NADU STATE MARKETING CORPORATION LIMITED

The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) was incorporated on 23.05.1983 under the Companies Act, 1956 to take over the wholesale distribution of IMFS, Beer and Arrack in Tamil Nadu, from the private sector. TASMAC took 20 over the whole sale distribution of IMFS, Beer and Wine from that date.

(4)NARCOTIC INTELLIGENCE BUREAU CID

The NIB CID Unit was first formed in Tamil Nadu at Chennai on 17.12.1963. At present there are total of 15 NIB CID units functioning in various parts of the State. The main function of NIB CID is to collect intelligence and take action against persons indulging in criminal activities such as manufacturing, consumption and trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.