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New Act coming to end drudgery
Sweeping changes have been suggested in the 1861 law that governs the police, reports Aloke Tikku.
A government-mandated committee on Monday called for sweeping changes in the 1861 law that governs police to make them everything they are not: efficient, professional, independent, accountable and representative of social diversity.
The country needed better-educated personnel to exercise discretionary power, said the Soli J Sorabjee Committee that took the police reforms ordered by the Supreme Court a step forward.
It has recommended that India do away with the constabulary in the civil police and put those who have cleared Class XII through a rigorous three-year training course and top it with an examination.
The Model Police Bill 2006 also lists measures to improve working conditions for policemen, including a six-day week and enabling provisions to declare disturbed areas within states — or in contiguous areas of neighbouring states — as special security zones.
The Supreme Court - that had also drawn from the initial draft of the Soli Sorabjee committee report - had recently ordered a fixed tenure for Directors General of Police and Superintendents of Police and the constitution of security commissions at the state and district level to insulate policing from extraneous pressures.
The report that Union home minister Shivraj Patil received on Monday also makes it mandatory for police to draw up a policing plan at district level in consultation with people. "This will be a forum for the public to articulate their concerns," said a committee member.
Officials said the ministry is fast-tracking the processing of the draft law and plans to introduce the Police Bill 2006 in Parliament's Winter Session. The committee is expected to get a three-month extension to enable it to formulate its view on federal offences; a list of serious offences that can be investigated by the Centre rather than ill-equipped state police forces.
There is unanimity in the government on the need for this concept; "what needs to be worked out is how to achieve this objective without sending a message that the Centre was encroaching on jurisdiction of the states".
Former Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee said the draft law was targeted at making "police efficient, effective, people friendly and accountable". It spells out the social responsibilities of the police and emphasises that the police will be governed by principles of impartiality and human rights norms, with special attention to protection of weaker sections including minorities.
The draft law contains a provision that the composition of the police will reflect social diversity; women as well as other social and religious groups. The Rajinder Sachar committee - that is taking a close look at the participation of the Muslim community in and out of the government - is slated to submit its report next month-end.
In an attempt to give functional autonomy to police, the new act proposes the creation of a police board, selection of chiefs on merit, earmarking dedicated personnel for investigating crime and law and order, a system of evaluating performances and creation of accountability commissions to investigate complaints against the police.
Email Author:atikku@hindustantimes.com
