SC seeks report on police reform,state security panels

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked all states and Union territories to apprise it of constitution and functioning of state security commissions,ordered to be set up to ensure independence of the police force from unwarranted interference by the executive.

In the wake of incidents of police excesses on a woman in Punjabs Tarn Taran and on contractual teachers in Patna,a Bench,led by Justice G S Singhvi,sought details of the meetings the security commissions held after their constitution,as per the 2006 SC order,and also the outcome of such deliberations.

In its 2006 order,the SC had ordered constitution of such panels so the government does not exercise unwarranted influence on the state police. The court had suggested that either the chief minister or the home minister should chair the commission and the state DGP be made the ex-officio secretary. Seven years have passed and the situation has gone from bad to worse, said the Bench.