JOIN USNeed for a movement for people's police
Some events in the recent past have not only shaken up the people of our country, but the police themselves. The statement of a DGP in the recently concluded DGP’s conference in New Delhi that it is better to videograph a riot rather than act against the riotous mob; the inaction of the Mumbai police to protect public property and members of its own ranks (including women police) at Azad Maidan;the molestation of a police woman by rampaging crowds in Odisha are some cases in point. Police in various parts of the country were also found wanting to effectively deal with rumour mongers resulting in large scale exodus of persons of north eastern origin to their home states.The people have started wondering whether the police forces in various parts of the country are able to perform their duties effectively at all, especially in view of the increasing incidents of terrorism.
Most people think that we are not getting the police service we deserve, as the police continues to remain a Force rather than a service. Many police officers who concur with this view believe that the rot which has steeped in is basically due to the fragmentation among police personnel over matters of political affiliation, religion, caste and such other considerations. There was a time when police personnel were adhering to the Constitution and the Laws of the Land. However due to constant political interference in postings and transfers, many police officers have allegiance to their political masters rather than to the laws of the land. That may be one of the reasons for the rot seen currently.
Reform the system
To end the stranglehold of the politicians on the police department and make the police subservient and accountable only to the laws of the land, two retired police officers filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court in 1996. In 2006, the Supreme Court while delivering its judgment, aiming to make the police objective and de-politicised, issued several guidelines to reform the police system in the country.
Unfortunately, even after six years of the Supreme Court ruling, nothing has changed but matters have gone from bad to worse. The Supreme Court had said that its guidelines would be the law of the land until the state governments amended their police acts.
Police is a state subject and it is for the state governments to enact Acts and Rules to deal with the police. Most state governments ignored the Supreme Court directions.
Some state governments amended their police Acts, but the amendments were more in the nature of perpetuating the status quo. In fact, the Monitoring committee on police reforms reported to Supreme Court in 2010 that, “no state has fully complied with these Directives so far, in letter and spirit”. It is a pity that in many states, including Karnataka, the head of police force is only an “acting head”. The postings and transfers from constables to the head of police are still determined by the political establishment and there is a feeling that the police is not accountable to the people. Some states have also diluted the powers that were once enjoyed by the police chief.
Totally disillusioned by this state of affairs, PrakashSingh, retired DGP, who first moved the Supreme Court in 1996, launched “People’s Police Movement” on September 22, 2012 in New Delhi. This date was chosen because precisely on the same day, six years ago, the Supreme Court had delivered its judgment on police reforms.The objectives of the movement are to metamorphose the “Ruler’s police” into “ People’s police”; to remove the stranglehold of the executive over the police; to make the police uphold the rule of law and act as per law; to improve the registration of cases; to make the police better behaved towards the public having empathy and respect for human rights; to make the police extend proper protection to the weaker sections of society like SC/STs, minorities , women and children; and improvements in police infrastructure, both physical and human.
Probably the idea of launching this movement is to make the public and NGOs pressurise the governments to bring about the much needed reforms in the police system. The organisers have already launched a website and appointed co-ordinators in various states, including Karnataka. However for any such movement to sustain there has to be active co-operation from the police personnel to change their mindset and allow reforms within the system.
I strongly believe that it is the police personnel themselves who abetted derailment of the reforms as stipulated by the Supreme Court. Right thinking police officers should now facilitate systemic changes as brought out in the Movement’s objectives leaving aside petty personal gains. To make this movement effective, participation of the police personnel themselves, more than the public at large, is imperative.
(The author is a retired DGP from Karnataka)