A Reform that Cannot Wait

The Indian Express     21st October 2020     Save    
QEP Pocket Notes

Context:  The Hathras incident and its aftermath have reminded us of the triad of malaises afflicting law enforcement in India.

Issues with law enforcement in India

  • Lack of sensitisation of police personnel: 
  • Behavioural malaises: Male police officials often manhandle female media persons and female politician.
  • Lack of training:  Less than 7 % of police get in-service training
  • The politicisation of the police: It is necessary for the police to stay away from agenda-driven politics since it acts as the custodian of maintenance of law and order.
  • Low police-to-people ratio: Inadequate strength of police personnel leads to shoddy policing 
  • The Indian police force is at only 77% of its sanctioned strength (source: Common Cause 2019) and has only 144 police personnel for one lakh population. (United Nations recommended: 222)
  • One in every five posts sanctioned in the Indian Police Service remains vacant, and one-fourth of the total sanctioned strength is vacant in low and middle-rank posts.  
  • Underrepresentation of women:  Women are less than 7% of our total police strength.

The focus of Police reforms:

  • Sensitise the police: To bring about attitudinal changes which include training in body language and decency in behaviour especially pertaining to gender and power relations.
  • Increase public confidence in police: Public confidence can be improved by upgrading levels of police service delivery and by investigating and acting in cases of police misconduct.
  • Enhance police accountability: This will improve police legitimacy and increase public confidence and thus reinforce the integrity of the system. 
  • E.g. Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland, the Danish Independent Police Complaints Authority and the Independent Police Conduct Authority in New Zealand.
  • Implement the recommendations of various committees
  • Dharma Vira Commission: recommended - 
    • Top police leadership should be selected by apolitical representatives and an impartial body 
    • Reforms in the criminal justice system and the Separation of law and order from investigation and prosecution have also been highlighted by various committees.
  • Other committees include: National Police Commission 1977, Gore Committee, Padmanabhaiah Committee and Malimath Committee.

Conclusion: A new role and new philosophy have to be defined for the police to restore the culture of the rule of law, and make police and justice accessible, effective and credible.

QEP Pocket Notes