MSHRC has admitted a petition, which brings to light the inhuman conditions in which the lower-rung of the Mumbai police force lives and works.
The Maharashtra State Human Right Commission (MSHRC) has admitted a petition, filed by human rights activist and advocate Sushan Kunjuraman, which brings to light the inhuman conditions in which the lower-rung of the Mumbai police force lives and works.
“The condition of constabulary force of the Mumbai police is worse than animals. Their houses are in very bad conditions and their work places are most unhygienic. In spite of that they discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and efficiency,” Kunjuraman said.
The petition states that the Mumbai police, specifically police staff class II and below are under incessant physical and mental stress.
The petition states that 90 per cent of the staff stays in police quarters which have an area of 180 sq-ft. It only has a small kitchen platform. Only one cot, one cupboard and one chair occupy the entire area. “It means that the occupants have no place to even sit comfortably, forget about having a comfortable sleep after reaching home from protracted tensed duties,” Kunjuraman said.
“The situation is so bad that if we have relatives coming home to spend even one night, the male members of the family have to sleep out in the verandah or the stair-case of the building,” a constable said on the condition of anonymity. Because of poor maintenance, the surroundings of these police quarters have become very unhygienic and become breeding grounds for deadly insects and mosquitoes, he further said.
The petition says that majority of these police quarters have ‘common toilet’ facilities. It means that on each floor, which has 16 to 18 families, there is one toilet. In most cases these toilets are in terrible condition. Most of these quarters get only one hour of water supply per day.
“Similar is the case of the Naigaon police headquarters. The total strength of the paramilitary forces there is 3,000 but there is only one toilet for them,” added Kunjuraman. The petition also highlights the abysmal condition of the work place i.e. the police stations.
When DNA asked Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) Subhash Awte regarding the allegations made in the petition he said that he was unaware of any such petition. “I am not aware of any such petition being filed. So it will be difficult to comment on it,” Awte said.
Admitting the petition, MSHRC said it will soon serve a notice on the Mumbai police.
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