Editorial: Police reforms long overdue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent call for radical changes in the police administration has brought the key issue of police reforms back into the spotlight. It is rather baffling that the successive governments have ignored the need for structural changes in the criminal justice system to make it more efficient and responsive to the needs […]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent call for radical changes in the police administration has brought the key issue of police reforms back into the spotlight. It is rather baffling that the successive governments have ignored the need for structural changes in the criminal justice system to make it more efficient and responsive to the needs of the people. As the Prime Minister rightly pointed out, the general public perception about the police is that one should stay away from them. Instead of inspiring confidence, the police system typically evokes fear of harassment. It is a legacy problem inherited from the colonial rulers who had used policing as a tool to instil fear among people. This must change and the change should start at the training stage itself. What the country needs now is a properly trained police force which is sensitive to the needs of the people, understands modern technology and knows how to communicate with the young generation and deal with the leaders of mass agitations. Investigation and prosecution methods need to be improved and all criminal trials must be completed within a specific timeframe. Technology-driven service delivery mechanisms can help achieve this, besides improving efficiency and cutting down corruption. E-governance is an effective way to help the overburdened beat and police station officers as well as harried citizens. Irrespective of the political dispensation at the Centre, there has been a reluctance to push for reforms. This is despite the clear guidelines issued in this regard by the Supreme Court in 2006.

Over the years, several expert committees have been set up, including the ones led by former senior IPS officer Julio Ribeiro and former home secretary K Padmanabhaiah and a galore of recommendations made on the need to change the functioning of the police force in tune with changing times. However, they largely remained on paper. The Indian police system is governed by a law enacted in 1860 and multiple commissions since 1971 have recommended a string of reforms but not many of them have been acted on. If India has to survive as a robust, rule-based nation, it needs to implement police reforms. The apex court had issued a set of directives for police reforms but their implementation across the country leaves much to be desired. The important directive among them was the constitution of Police Complaints Authorities (PCAs) at the State and district levels to receive and inquire into people’s complaints of police misconduct on issues ranging from custodial rapes and deaths, corruption and illegal arrests. These entities must serve as independent and proactive police oversight bodies with support from civil society to make an impact on police accountability. There is also a need to separate the investigation and law and order wings to ensure speedier probes and improved rapport with the people.

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