Haryana proposes outsourcing of non-core functions of police force

Surjewala also said the state government had communicated its response to 153 recommendations contained in the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) report. He added that in keeping with the ARC suggestions,Haryana has set up a State Police Board to serve as an overall supervisory body at the highest level.

The Board has been set up to aid and advice the state government,frame policy guidelines for prompt efficient,responsive and accountable policing and evaluate the force’s performance,the minister said. “With fairly wide-ranging functions and powers for the Board and well laid out procedures and rules,we have not felt any need to have more institutions within the administrative structure of the state police,” he added. Haryana has also set up a Police Complaints Authority to serve as a watchdog of the police force.

Surjewala also said that the Lokayukta has been doing an admirable job of reining in the police personnel from committing excesses. With all this,Haryana does not feel the need for overarching supervisory and control systems like the state commission for performance and accountability,board of investigation,among others,as envisaged in the ARC report,he added. The Parliamentary Affairs minister also pointed out that the government had formulated a comprehensive scheme for victims of serious crimes.

While further commenting on the ARC recommendations,he asserted that the state favoured a strong federal structure,which would safeguard its autonomy. “We cannot support any step which compromises the federal structure in any manner. It is not possible for us to support any provision which enables the Union government to move central forces to a state without the state’s consent or requisition,” he said,before adding that he was in favour of “federal crimes” being identified and listed. The minister,however,said the state would object to any changes regarding confessions before the police: “We are strongly against any changes in the existing provisions of the CrPC and the Indian Evidence Act. Confession made before the police cannot be made admissible irrespective of the precautions taken. We cannot tinker with the basic rights and freedom of citizens. We however,support the recommendation regarding the judge’s obligation to pro-actively ascertain the truth during the trial and also the increased proposed punishment for perjury.”

On modernisation of the police force,he said Haryana had been working to modernise its force through financial and administrative means. He added that Haryana had set up an independent State Crime Branch to separate criminal investigation from law and order functions.