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Need Of Police Reform

God alone
God alone
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The policing system of India is the legacy of colonial era, which was established by the British under the Police Act of 1861 after first war of Independence. Transiting from colonial rule to sovereign polity, India has changed its political system to dovetail with the pace of globalised world, barring to the police system which is still with the legacy of British Raj. No attempt was made by the government to introduce reforms and change the system inherited from the colonial days. A highly feudal and colonial system of policing, without any community involvement, continues to function in an environment, which became increasingly democratic and looks toothless in face of terror challenges that India is facing today.

As terrorism, insurgency and naxalism pose serious menace to the country’s security, law and enforcement agency of India is in dire need of donning modern look to meet the challenges hurled by them. After Mumbai mayhem (26/11), the Central government also woke up to the reality that police reform is urgently needed to counter rogue elements operating from the territory of neighboring countries. Albeit the Supreme Court pronounced directives for state governments to reform the police system in 2006, nothing tangible happened so far. The Supreme Court raised its brow over the state governments’ inactiveness in reforming the system. Observing the action of four states—Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka and Maharashtra– in this regard, the apex court observed none of them did much except for Karnataka which managed to move on this count but not satisfactorily. On several occasions, the Supreme Court rapped the knuckles of the state governments for not implementing its directives to modernize the police system, but the situation did not budge a bit. State governments put their plea that the court’s instructions could not be followed literally. Surprisingly, the Central government also seconded the state government’s stand.

It is beyond the realm of understanding, why the state governments not separate law and order from investigation in order to ensure more effective and methodical work? From top to bottom in police hierarchy, the tenure of police officials should be fixed so that they feel their responsibilities? It is disappointing that the apex court has geared up to reform the police but the state governments seem to be lax as law and order comes under state list. This is not the duty of the Supreme Court to run after the government to modernize the police system rather the Centre and states together need to take up challenge seriously to establish good law and order situation where common people can walk fearlessly. The state governments seem to be reluctant to reform the system as they do not want to insulate the policing from political interference. It is better that the apex court should adopt tough posture until its directives are followed.

Ramakant/ Dr A.K. Jha

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