CHRI: Centre, states failed to enforce police reforms

New Delhi, Sep 21 : The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) on Thursday said that the central and state governments had failed to implement the Supreme Court directions on improving the policing system even 11 years after they were issued.

A statement from CHRI said that September 22, 2017, marks the 11th anniversary of the Supreme Court directions aimed at transforming policing into a professional, accountable and efficient service.

It said that while 18 states enacted new Police Acts and 11 issued executive orders, but it was "ostensibly to comply with the Supreme Court orders" as "not a single one conforms to the directives" of the court. 

"Many states have in fact taken the opportunity to ensure the police remain under the control of state governments and is less accountable," the statement said.

"States have either blatantly rejected or ignored the directives, or diluted significant features," it said. 

In most states, the government continues to enjoy the power to appoint and transfer the Director General of Police, Superintendent of Police and Officer-in-Charge of a police station, instead of having a selection from a panel of officers chosen by the UPSC, it added.

"This will continue to limit the ability of the police to stand up against illegal or irregular political orders."

It said that the central government, which administers policing in Delhi and other Union Territories, had also been a laggard.

"It set up a committee in 2005 under Soli Sorabjee that prepared a Model Police Act but successive central governments have ignored this model completely. Delhi still does not have an independent Police Complaints Authority and its State Security Commission has barely met four-five times in five years," it added.

"The pattern of disobedience to the Supreme Court's clear directives indicates a wilful refusal to put the police on the path of reform, rather to keep it as a regime police in service of the regime in power rather than in service of the people and the law."

"It is no surprise that the police remain constantly cited for abuse of power, corruption, bias, custodial violence, criminal behaviour and inefficient performance. In the absence of public trust and cooperation, the police will continue to be unable to provide safety and security for the ordinary citizen," it said.