By U Sudhakar Reddy
Hyderabad
The state government is trying to change the way the police works but without even a cursory discussion with the major stakeholders - the citizens. Human rights groups have cried foul at the government's decision to pass the AP Police Reforms Bill without any public consultation.
The committee which drafted the AP Police Act on the basis of directives issued by the Supreme Court did not hold any public debate. Neither is the government planning anything along those lines in the coming weeks.
Instead, it wants to pass the bill in the budget session of the Assembly straightaway. Once the draft bill gets the nod of the chief minister, Dr Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy, the cabinet will approve it and place it before the Legislature. Civil society and human rights groups have slammed this ‘secretive procedure' as nothing less than a travesty of democracy.
WHAT THE SC WANTS
The committee which drafted the AP Police Act on the basis of directives issued by the Supreme Court did not hold any public debate. Neither is the government planning anything along those lines in the coming weeks.
Instead, it wants to pass the bill in the budget session of the Assembly straightaway. Once the draft bill gets the nod of the chief minister, Dr Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy, the cabinet will approve it and place it before the Legislature. Civil society and human rights groups have slammed this ‘secretive procedure' as nothing less than a travesty of democracy.
WHAT THE SC WANTS
1. Fixed tenure for DGPs, SPs and station houses officers (of operational duty) for two years. DGPs should be selected on merit basis.
2. Setting up of police establishment boards to deal with transfer, promo tion and posting of personnel.
3. Setting up of police complaint authority at state and district level to deal with complaints against misconduct and custodial violence.
4. State Security Commission to prevent unnecessary influence on the police by the state government.
5. Separation of the investigation and law and order functions of the police. 6. Scientific research in crime investigation.
(Published in Deccan Chronicle on Feb 6 2008)
1 comment:
Dear Sir,
Thanks for your comments. Its my belief that as long as there is no accountability by the police about their actions, no reforms in any of the sections of the government machinary will be successful.
Over the years since independence of India, we have heard and seen many reforms, but never has there been a serious discussion about police reforms.
The police on their part have been responsible for the Goonda Raj with AP Police being one of the most currupt in India.
To stop these rout, we need to have sweeping reforms and specifically there should be quick resolution to the citizens grivience against the police.
Also, a very quick question, do we have any such NGO's who help the citizens who have complaints against the police machinary. Does the government of AP has any such complain forum?
Harish Gupta
gupta.harish@gmail.com
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