Parliamentary Panel Report on Police Reforms

Parliamentary Standing Committee report on Police Reforms

Parliamentary Panel Report on Police Reforms

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• The story: In Feb 2022, a report ‘Police- training, modernisation and reforms’ was tabled in the parliament. It lists the number of reforms required and challenges faced by the Police forces. Police reforms aim to transform the values, culture, policies and practices of police organizations.
• Key points of the report: It asked the Centre to advise states and Union Territories to create a road map for ensuring 33% representation of women in police. The appointment of women in police may be done by creating additional posts rather than converting the vacant posts of men. Ensuring higher women representation will also help in improving the police-population ratio.

1. It recommended offline and online modules to help Police-men de-stress through yoga, exercises, counseling and treatment.
2. It called for the separation of investigation from law and order to maintain accountability and increase police autonomy in probing crimes, this will lead to specialisation and professionalism, speed up the investigation and secure the convictions.
3. The panel backed virtual trials, particularly those involving high-risk groups, via video conferencing. It will help in dedicating less police force for escorting under-trial prisoners to courts and also save resources.
4. The committee expressed disappointment over the poor housing satisfaction levels among police personnel and recommended an allocation of funds for housing.
5. In the 21st century India, there are police stations without telephones or proper wireless connectivity especially in many sensitive states like Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Punjab.
6. Policing system should be transparent, independent, accountable and people-friendly.
7. The committee expressed concern that even after 15 years, only 17 States have either enacted the Model Police Act, 2006, or amended the existing Act.
8. It recommended that the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) may put the information in public domain about the states that are leading and lagging in the modernization process.
9. Community policing should be promoted, as it involves a cooperative effort between police and the communities where both can work together to solve the crime and crime-related problems.
10. Advise the state police and central armed police forces to train and liaison with people living in the border areas for gathering intelligence on infiltration, use of drones and drug trafficking.
11. The report suggests the MHA to create a central pool of anti-drone technology "at the earliest" and give its access to all states and Union Territories.
12. The committee observed that the under-utilisation of funds by the states for police modernisation needs to be identified. It recommended that the MHA should consider constituting a committee which can visit the underperforming states and assist them to utilize the funds in a planned manner.

• Issues of concern: The Police Act of 1861 was legislated by the British right after the revolt of 1857 to bring in efficient administration of police in the country and to prevent any future revolts. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC-2007) has noted that political control has been abused in the past by the political executive to unduly influence police personnel.

1. In the Indian police force, the lower ranks of police personnel are often verbally abused by their superiors or they work in inhuman conditions.
2. The Second ARC has noted that police-public relations is in an unsatisfactory State because people view the police as corrupt, inefficient, politically partisan and unresponsive.
3. While the sanctioned police strength was 181 police per lakh persons in 2016, the actual strength was 137 police. This is way too low when compared with the United Nations’ recommended standard of 222 police per lakh persons.
4. Modern policing requires strong communication support, state-of the-art or modern weapons, and a high degree of mobility but CAG audit reports of year 2015-16, have found shortages in weaponry with state police forces. The Bureau of Police Research and Development has also noted a 30.5% deficiency in stock of required vehicles with the state forces.

• Summary: The past decade has witnessed a steep rise in crime statistics in India. As per the data of the National Crime Resource Bureau, cognizable crimes under the Indian Penal Code have shot up from 18,78,293 from 29,49,400 a drastic increase if 63% and cognizable crimes under the Special and Local Laws have gone up from 32,24,167 to 43,76,699 an increase of 73%. The escalation of the crimes speaks for itself on the state of the criminal justice system in the country. In order to understand the reason behind it, it is important to look into the two facets of criminal justice - the police and the judiciary - as criminals are nabbed by the police and punishment/justice is delivered by the judiciary. Much has been said and deliberated upon the judicial framework, its shortcomings on delivery of justice and the needed reforms but Police Reforms have also been side-lined.  
• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Comment on the urgency to have necessary police reforms to make justice delivery system more efficient. (2) Police reforms are the need of the hour in India. Discuss the significance in the context of rise in crime. (3) What would an ideal police force be like? Explain.

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