Police reform

On September 22, "Police Reform Day" is celebrated every year. Looking back at the significance of this day, it is found that in 1902-03, Fraser Commission had said that "the police force is far behind in terms of its capacity. It is surrounded by many organizations in terms of organization and training. It's corrupt and oppressive. It has failed to win the confidence of the public. "Those words, which were told about the police force 115 years ago, seem to apply 100 percent today. This is why Police Correction Day was considered necessary, and it was started.
  • Various attempts have been made from time to time to overcome the shortcomings of the police force. Different states have constituted commissions related to it. Unfortunately, no commission has taken any measures to save it from the unwanted pressures falling on the police force.
  • In 1977 the then central government formed the National Police Commission. The Commission submitted eight detailed reports between 1979-81. But the central government of India used the proposed reforms in these reports only to show off.
  • In 2006, the Supreme Court gave seven comprehensive guidelines relating to police reforms. Six of these were for state governments and one central government. In these guidelines, the states were asked to make three types of institutions. (1) The State Security Commission (To keep the police free of additional pressure.) (2) Police establishment Board (to give autonomy to the police officers in decision-making), and (3) Police prosecuting authorities (to make the police responsible .)
In these guidelines, the process of electoral process for the Director General of Police has also been described. At the same time, it has been said that the states have been kept separate from the law and order investigation process so that any case can be examined thoroughly and impartially.
Central Government has been given directions to create National Security Commission.
  • After these guidelines given to the Supreme Court 12 years ago, they have not been implemented till date. Seventeen states passed the laws to comply with the orders of the court, but kept them aside. Other states issued such executive orders which are adverse to the court's guidelines. In some states, the police organizations were formed in favor of the court's order, but either their rights were reduced or their form changed. DG of Police is also being selected arbitrarily. There is also a lot of procrastination in the case of law and order separation from the investigation.
  • The court had constituted the Justice Thomas Committee to monitor the police reforms, which presented its report in 2010 and spoke of a disappointing attitude towards the state police reforms. The Justim Verma Committee on the Nirbhaya scandal that took place in 2012 has once again emphasized the need for adopting the six guidelines given to the states by the Supreme Court.
Conclusion
No incidents have any effect on the states. Indeed, they do not want to get out of the colonial mindset. There are two reasons- (1) Misuse of police force is their advantage. (2) It is not acceptable to leave the bureaucracy's authority over the police force. This nexus between politicians and bureaucrats is very strong. It specializes in strangling any policy, scandal and improvement.
The ruling party is failing to accept the fact that the pace of economic reforms and political stability of the country is a fair and dull police force. Why would any foreign investor want to come to a country where law and order situation is bad? The Prime Minister's dream of smart police can not be fulfilled until the states are ready to adopt reforms. The basic purpose of police reforms is not to increase the beauty of the police. Its aim is to increase public safety, maintain law and order and establish good governance.
Based on Prakash Singh's article published in The Times of India September 20, 2018

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