Protecting whistleblowers? First, root for honest cops

The whistleblower8217;s perils have been highlighted in a state where the High Court, the Governor, the media, the people and even the then...

The whistleblower8217;s perils have been highlighted in a state where the High Court, the Governor, the media, the people and even the then state DGP have been crying hoarse that the law and order machinery has collapsed.

The Supreme Court and the Election Commission are trying hard to salvage, whatever they can, from the mire that Indian democracy has sunk into8212;despite a very matured and responsive leadership8212;due to the fractured electoral mandate to the Central Government.

The intellectuals8212;barring honourable exceptions8212;instead of supporting the progressive forces are twiddling their thumbs, while the common man is divided over petty concerns and is distributing his vote like charnamrit or prasad to all and sundry. Until we all learn to vote for higher issues only, like progress and development and unity, and not fritter away our mandate on petty matters, the Central Government will need the support of the apex court in taking a firm stand in a state where whistleblowing is suicidal and propriety a forgotten word.

This degeneration has been caused by the overlooking of the reputation of the officers while choosing police chiefs. These days, service records of the corrupt are assiduously and craftily manoeuvred so as to shine and overshadow those of the honest and impartial, who, as it is, lack the lustre of the lucre and nepotism and sycophancy.

If the apex court does not effectively intervene and insist that the reputation of the officers be the main determinant in selecting police chiefs of states, sycophancy, nepotism and corruption will weed out the honest and impartial from everywhere. The institutions are all there8212;bright and shining. Only dependence on highly untruthful records has crippled them and hence this mess. The task of cleaning the stables will need the benign leadership of the Supreme Court, upholding Truth and Justice, the support of the media and the intelligentsia.

The writer is the DGP, State Crime Records Bureau, Rajasthan