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Journalism of Courage
With Governor V S Kokje promulgating an ordinance, Himachal Pradesh on Monday joined a list of select states that have expressed readiness to implement police reforms and replace the nearly one-and-a-half century old British era police Act. The draft Himachal Pradesh Police Act, 2007 was cleared by the state Cabinet last month after a Cabinet sub-committee gave its go-ahead.
One of the landmark changes, which the Act proposes, is to make the police “an agency for the service of citizens” and ensuring a greater public participation in police functions. The police, as proposed in the model Act, will cease to be “a force” and will have to adopt itself to needs of the local community.
“Since the Assembly was not in session, the Government has chosen to implement the reforms through the Ordinance,” said state’s Principal Secretary (Home) S Vijay Kumar.
In fact, in Himachal the process for police reforms had started almost three years back when investigations were separated from law and order. The concept of community policing was adopted in 1999-2000. A minimum two-year tenure for DIGs, SPs, DySPs and SHOs was fixed last year.
“As part of the reforms exercise, we have met almost all major requirements set out by the Supreme Court of India. Himachal Pradesh being one of the gentle states, has no problem in implementing these reforms,” said Kumar.
The new law provides procedures for appointment of the Director General of Police and senior officers, including IGPs and DIGs. The Act also lays down greater emphasis on a modern police structure, including specialised wings and services like Intelligence and Investigation departments and Directorate of Technical and Support services.
Before the final draft was arrived at, the Home department had to undergo a long process of debates on provisions of the Act. SPs in all districts were also involved in discussions and some of them were asked to given written suggestions.
