|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
CIVIL LIBERTIES IN PERIL:
RIGHTS GROUPS URGE FOR POLICE REFORMS
Bhopal 13 March 2010, The Commonwealth
Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) along with Parayatna and Udai society urges the
government of Madhya Pradesh to fully implement the Supreme Court’s directives
in the Prakash Singh case on police reforms. Several NGOs, lawyers, journalists
and retd police and serving officers deliberated on the issue of police reforms
for the day. The seminar was attended by serving officer including Mr S K Raut,
DGP, Shailendra Shrivastava, V K Wate, ADG Complaints and Human Righs, Vijay
Yadav IGP, Mr R Katoch PS Home, S C Tripathi, Retd DG, Prof Zamruddin, Arvind
Malviya, Congress spokesperson, Arpit Sikarwal, BJP Youth Wing, Amit Sharma,
Congress Youth Wing, Mr Abdul Jabbar, social activist, Mrs Deepika Baghchi,
Ratna Mukherjee, Ajay Gupta, Criminal lawyer, Mrs Raka Arya, Law University,
Sadhna Pathak, lawyer and human rights activist and Mr Herdenia, activist.
The Supreme Court of India in its 2006 judgment, Prakash Singh and Others vs.
Union of India and Others had directed all State and Central governments to
implement six directives which would kickstart the reform process. These
directives were aimed at giving functional responsibility to the police in
matters of administration while remaining under the supervision of the political
executive and also ensuring that public complaints are addressed and police
accountability is enhanced. Madhya Pradesh has been one of those few states that
has been disobedient of the Court’s orders. Of the six directives it has
implemented only three of the directives and that too only on paper. The casual
approach of the Madhya Pradesh government borne out by its lack of effort in
complying with the Court’s directives or taking any concrete steps to implement
significant directives with far reaching consequences for improving the state
police demonstrate its unwillingness to reform the police.
Crime in Madhya Pradesh is increasing steadily. The state ranks highest in the
number of rape cases as well as highest in the number of cases received against
the police. In wake of such statistics government’s apathy in bringing about
reforms cannot be explained. The DGP as well as PS Home today failed to give any
reason for not setting up the required bodies.
It was concluded that a letter would be sent to the CM with a set of demands to
immediately implement the reforms. An urgent reply from the CM is expected.
At the moment the public has little faith in the police, which it views as
abusive, corrupt and broken. The people of the state deserve first-rate policing
and nothing less. This is the one chance to reform the police. There is no
moment to be lost. Then whole initiative was taken by 2 youth of Bhopal Ajay
Dubey AND Shehla Masood (Social Activists), Nawaz Kotwal came from Delhi. She is
the Coordinator Police Reforms For India ajay and Shehla had visited and
represented the case in to Rtd. Justice KT Thomas who is heading the Committee
formed by Supreme Court for Implementation of Police reforms in India it was for
the first time that an initiative was taken for an open discussion among the
society.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|