Ready for reform

I had written to the presidents of the five principal political parties contesting the Maharashtra Assembly Elections asking them to include their party’s commitment to police reforms as part of their election manifesto.

As of today only the BJP has replied and I hope that the others, too, will agree to do so.  Earlier, I had written to Milind Deora, Priya Dutt and Supriya Sule, three young and enthusiastic MPs from Maharashtra, asking them to meet some citizens who are bothered about the police’s ability to protect public life and property, particularly after the 26/11 fiasco. Priya and Supriya and later Milind reacted positively to my suggestions.

What are police reforms?  It is not about better weapons, better equipment or even the working conditions of policemen.  These are issues that are best left to police leaders.  Police reforms are about de-politicising the police and making the force more professional. 

It involves selection and appointment of good men, of integrity and competence, at the top levels. It is universally accepted that when there is good leadership there is always spectacular improvement in performance.  If a commissioner of police is bent on serving the people, according to his oath to the Constitution, the  difference can be felt by ordinary folks.

Let us take an example.  Many people tell me that the present commissioner of police, D Sivanandhan, is an ideal choice.  But to deliver, he needs freedom to operate and control his own force. He needs operational independence, particularly in the choice of officials to head or man the eighty odd police stations in the city. 

Most citizens are not aware that the home department often posts inspectors and deputy commissioners directly from Mantralaya.  And even police constables have direct pipelines to politicians!

The police commissioner also needs the authority to implement the law without fear or favour.  When parents of the New Era High School blocked a main artery of the city for a few hours it was necessary to use force to clear the traffic but political considerations prevented the police from using force. 

The ordinary motorist and commuters were deprived of their rights.  On more frequent occasions, Raj Thackeray is allowed to beat up “outsiders” because his help is required to split the Hindutva votes so that the ruling party can win the elections.  Such considerations should not deter a professional police force from enforcing the law of the land.

In short, what we require is a good leader who is honest and just and who is concerned about the safety of life and property of the citizens and who will implement the law impartially without having to obtain the permission of his political masters. 

This is possible if and when the police reforms ordained by the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh’s case are introduced in all States of the Union, like the Union home minister has done in the central police organisations and the Union Territories in his jurisdiction. 

Unfortunately, no state has implemented these reforms and carried out the Supreme Court’s directions in spirit.  This is because no party wants to lose control over the police as it means loss of power and patronage and very often monetary loss!

Politicians of every hue dabble in transfers and postings because police officers and men approach them for such favours which are then repaid either in cash or in reciprocal favours made possible by misusing powers entrusted to them by law. Corruption thrives in such a system. 

The law is not enforced or enforced selectively.  The influence of the chief to motivate or discipline his juniors is reduced to almost nothing and the public suffers from the poor governance that results.

This is what the people should understand and oppose.  They should insist on all political parties agreeing to implement the Supreme Court’s judgment in Prakash Singh’s case and refuse to vote for parties that are more interested in their own welfare than in that of the people whose votes they seek. 

This is the best opportunity people have to demand better delivery of the criminal justice system at least from one entity in that system and that is its police force. There is already some churning in the third and final arm of the criminal justice system that is the judiciary. 

But the police force is being ignored because the people mistakenly expect politicians to monitor the conduct and behaviour of the men in uniform.  This can never happen in a system where the politician and the policemen have complementary
interests. 

Fortunately, there are elections every five years and this is the opportunity for the people to demand better service from its police forces.