SC asks states to file affidavit on police reforms

The Supreme Court Tuesday directed all state governments and union territories to apprise it on the compliance with its directions passed six years ago for revamping the police machinery in the country, including a fixed two-year term for DGPs.

A bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and justices S S Nijjar and J Chelameswar asked the states to file affidavits stating the extent to which they had complied with the apex court’s September 22, 2006 judgement, directing a slew of reforms to improve the police machinery.

The order was passed on a PIL filed by former DGP of Uttar Pradesh Prakash Singh stating that it was not known whether the apex court’s directions were implemented in its totality by state governments.

His counsels Prashant Bhushan and Rohit Singh said an application was filed in April 2011 stating that several states have not complied with the order on a fixed two-year tenure for the DGP.

The court asked them to file the affidavits by November-end and posted the matter for further hearing on December 4.

The court also asked the Union Public Service Commission to set up within two weeks a panel of three senior most IPS officers for appointing the DGP of Tamil Nadu.