***As far as the police themselves are concerned there have been numerous failures and inadequacies on their part and most of it could be safely attributed to professional aspects. Take for example, the problems of women-police misbehaviour, crime against women and the numerous aspects of domestic violence against women etc. the police have by and large failed to deal with such problems with a sense of understanding of the social changes that are taking place but have allowed themselves to be part of the blame rather than the remedy.***

THE efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of the police in our country have been suspect for some time now. But it has never been at'such a low ebb as it is being perceived these days. But to put the blame entirely at the doors of the police would be very unjust, though there is no doubt that the police at various levels have themselves contributed to their present none too flattering image. The Union Home Minister went on record the other day at Tirupati that not one person has confidence in the police.

This is a very serious indictment of the entire police iti the countiy as well as those who control them and lay down policies for them. This extraordinary and starting situation no doubt calls for urgent and serious introspection on the part of both the parties with a view to retrieve at least a pact of the lost credibility, if not the whole of it. In fact, it is hoped that the HM would follow this up and come up with specific action plan to set things right in this very important sphere, it is also hoped that the Parliament and State Legislatures would debate this matter at length and contribute to bring about drastic improvement.

As far as the police themselves are concerned there have been numerous failures and inadequacies on their part and most of it could be safely attributed to professional aspects. Take for example, the problems of women-police misbehaviour, crime against women and the numerous aspects 6f domestic violence against women etc. Unfortunately, the police have by and large failed to deal with such problems with a sense of understanding of the social and social changes that are taking place but have allowed them-selves to be part of the blame

rather than the remedy. There have been a variety of cases in which police inaction and indifference ultimately led to agencies like the national Commission for Women etc. to intervene to seek the require remedy. This, notwithstanding the fact that in almost every State a separate 'Women’s Cell' exists within the police organisation.

There are various other segments of our life where failure of the police to play their basic role has resulted in continuous erosion of the public faith in them. Take the rule of the police in the infamous Babri Masjid demolition, the Coimbatore bomb blasts, the Bombay riots of 1993. the failure to arrest one Dara Singh against whom numerous cases were registered on complaints from various sections of the people in Orissa and who is now the prime suspect in the Unfortunate murder of Stein and his two children. There are numerous other such instances. But it is suffice to refer to a few to bring home the point about the need for the police themselves to look inward and set in motion steps which will convince the public that the police are serious and sincere about their desire to be instruments of reliable public service and agents of rule of law.

I am aware of efforts on the part of individual police officers to remedy this unsatisfactory situation but the results

achieves, however satisfying i( may be to individuals, definitely call for total systemic effort rather than at the individual level alone. This is where the continued failure to set in motion police reforms as envisaged by the national Police Commission becomes relevant and important. And, it is in this context' that the political and administrative authorities (who rule the Secretariat and in most case decisively influence policies, particularly relating to police administration) have to own their share of blame.

A few days ago, a former Union Home Minister confessed to the fact that he looked foolish in trying to press for reforms to make the police capable of functioning more reliably. impartially and in an accountable manner. He made no secret of the fact that not even one Chief Minister of all the State in the country, to all of whom he wrote personally, though it fit to even acknowledge. leave alone act on his suggestions. He further clarified that the suggestions made by him did not involve any financial burden but only administrative action. I am referring to these remarks of the former HM hoping that this would help the readers to more clearly appreciate the politics behind police reforms in the country. It is pardonable to conclude that if left to themselves, the political authorities would not like and

allow any worthwhile reforms of the police in materialise.

What about the members of the All India Services, who are the principal functionaries in the Secretariats both at the Centre as well as the States'. For long there is a strong feeling that the IAS has particularly developed long terrp Service, oriented>yested interest in keep-, ing the hegemony over the police without, however, matching responsibility. It would not be easy for the political authority to overcome this invisible obstruction. After all. why could the State Home Secretaries not have taken the required interest and at least got the States to send a' reply to the Union HM. if the reply was in the negative. Let there be no mistake about the role of the IAS acting from behind in stalling any worthwhile reform of the police.

It seems the former HM made it a point to tell the CMS that if the Executive failed to steer in the reforms to make the police acceptable to the public, the judiciary may step in and then the executive may be faced with a judicial’ direction on the matter. Incidentally, a judicial officer played a major role in bringing into being what is known as "the new police' in the UK. Readers are perhaps aware of the fact that the matter of implementing the recommendations of the national Police Commission is already before

the Supreme Court and it is hoped that very soon the Executive would find it necessary to steer in the required reforms.

There is an impression that successive UMs have attempted to find simplistic solutions to major failures in the field of law and order and crime investigation. More often than not, the emphasis has been to deputy additional forces, including Central Forces. There has been hardly any attempt to enhance the capability of the cutting ^edge mechanism like the Police Station and to pin point the role of the professional hierarchy in terms of purposeful and effective supervision. At the moment, much lias been left to be desired in these realms,

,. Unless this is looked into with seriousness, il will not be easy at all to have any measure of reasonable grip over the very unsatisfactory and unnerving 'security' situation which stares in the face of every section of the society. The case of Bihar comes to mind where over a dozen Police Stations were created but the failure to notify them in formal gazettes more dr less nullified the purpose of creating such PSs. so is the case of Dara Singh of Orissa, in whose case, the entire police hierarchy of Mayarbhanj district seems to have over looked the need to take follow up action after registering a number of criminal cases against him.

There has not been adequate public debate on such issues because political opportunism takes over. It is obvious that we cannot leave important matters like police reform only in the hands of the political parties and the police. Why not the public assume an effective rule?

— Mandtra

The author is a former Director General of Border Security Force.