DGP, IG meet may discuss suggestions on Police Act

The recommendations of the panel for redrafting the obsolete Police Act are likely to be discussed at the conference of Directors and Inspectors General of Police, to be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, beginning here on Wednesday. A number of DGPs have already objected to the proposed role of the Centre in their appointment and a suggestion for having a mechanism to look into complaints of public against the police.

While a high-level meeting convened by the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday to review the far-reaching recommendations for changes in the Police Act came in handy for airing their objections, the DGPs are likely to ventilate their views at the three-day conference. The DGPs are also sore at the recommendation for a fixed two-year tenure for senior police officials. Official sources said issues like national security, left-wing extremism, terrorism, espionage and organised crime will be high on the agenda at the conference, which will also deliberate on security of critical infrastructure, security environment in the Northeast and counter-terrorism doctrine. Issues like disaster management, management of international borders, VIP security and police-media relations will also figure in the meeting.

A move is also afoot to have separate wings for law and order and crime investigation duties.