Look Out Circular (LOC)

In News 

• Recently, Delhi Police issued a Look-out-circular (LoC) against son of Rajasthan Cabinet Minister  in connection with a rape in which he is a suspect.

What is a Look Out Circular? 

• It is a notice to stop any individual wanted by the police, investigating agency or even a bank from leaving or entering the country through designated land, air and sea ports.
• The immigration is tasked to stop any such individual against whom such a notice exists from leaving or entering the country. There are 86 immigration check posts across the country. 
• Issuing authority : A large number of agencies which includes the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Income Tax, State police and intelligence agencies are authorised to generate LOCs. 
  • The officer should not be below the rank of a district magistrate or superintendent of police or a deputy secretary in the Union Government. 

• How are banks authorised? 
  • After several businessmen fled the country after defaulting on loans, the MHA in 2018 brought changes to the 2010 guidelines authorising the chairman, managing director and chief executives of all public sector banks to generate LOCs against persons who could be detrimental to economic interests of the country. 
  • The Ministry recently told the Delhi High Court that banks were authorised to generate LOCs as “in the recent past there have been incidents where the willful defaulters or economic offenders of public financial institutions have left the country after usurping public money or defrauding such public financial institutions.” 

• Remedial measures: Many citizens have moved courts to get the LOC quashed.
  • The MHA has asserted that “LOCs cannot be shown to the subject” at the time of detention nor can any prior intimation be provided.

Source:TH