States asked to implement police reforms

The Centre used the conference of country’s top cops as a platform to make a forceful case for police reforms by state Governments.

The Centre used the conference of country’s top cops as a platform to make a forceful case for police reforms by state Governments. The meet was essentially meant for Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police from states and Central police organisations. But on the last day on Saturday, home secretaries of states attended a special session on police reforms chaired by Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta.

The states were urged to incorporate features of the Model Police Act prepared by the Soli Sorabjee Committee.

The Supreme Court had earlier this year directed the Centre and states to bring in new Acts to replace the existing 1861 legislation. The court had also sought inclusion of provisions like a fixed tenure for top cops and separation of law and order and investigation duties.

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The Sorabjee Committee, set up by the Centre, had come up with a model law that was circulated to the states. About a dozen states have already brought in police reforms or are in the process of doing so. “We want all states to come out with a police Act,” an official said.

In his inaugural address, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil urged the states to work towards this. “While the states have to legislate new police Acts, main provisions of new police Acts in different states should be as far as possible in line with the Model Police Act,” he said.

Several states, including West Bengal and Bihar, had expressed reservations on the Supreme Court order, particularly on a fixed-tenure for DGPs and composition of the state security commissions headed by the Chief Minister that has to include the Leader of Opposition as well.

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