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| Police Bill likely to be introduced | | Govt makes Draft public , invites public inputs | | Early Times reports
Jammu, Feb 17: Finally the State Government is planning to introduce the new police bill in the upcoming assembly session and the Government has made the draft bill public few days back. The Government has invited suggestions from citizens , civil society and NGO's regarding the new police bill.
According to details the proposed draft Legislation bearing number Home/PB-III/20/2013 dated 14th February has been issued by State's Home Secretary Suresh Kumar and according to details the Act is aimed at consolidating and amending the law relating to the establishment, regulation, power and duties of Police Service in the State and for matter connected therewith and incidental thereto. The new police act emphasizes the need to redefine the role of Police, its duties and responsibilities, by taking into account the emerging challenges of policing and security of State, the Act proposed to constitute Police Complaints Authority, State Security Commission, Police Establishment Board and Police Welfare Board. The Act also proposed separation of the Investigation wing of Police Department from the Law and Order wing for better management of affairs.
But the stake holders want that before making draft bill public the Government must hold consultations with the civil society which includes activists , NGO representatives , eminent lawyers , civil society actors and media. While talking to Early Times Social Activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat said that the bill must be delayed this time and it should be introduced in the legislature in the next session and the Government must initiate a consultation on the bill with the stake holders which includes social activists, eminent lawyers , human rights defenders and media. Muzaffar added that Government is in haste and wants to pass the act without any public debate . It will be useless to seek comments and what is the guarantee that such comments will be considered.
Earlier the state government has created a Police Establishment Board (PEB) but that exists on papers only. The activists and experts on this matter say the powers of the Board are not a binding on the Govt as it cannot make recommendations regarding the Superintendent of Police and above. New Delhi based NGO Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) which is quite aggressively working on the implementation of Police Reforms in India and abroad has expressed its concern that the Police Establishment Boards (PEB) will operate in closed door culture, communicating only with the political executive, with no efforts from either the police or executive to spread and promote public awareness of the existence and mandate of these Boards.
RTI Activist Mohammad Ramzan Khan who works with J&K RTI Movement has also supported the idea of holding consultations before police bill is enacted by the state assembly . He said that it will be futile exercise without holding the public debate
While talking to Early Times Navaz Kotwal who is Coordinating Police Reforms team of CHRI said that in view of the deficit in public trust and the common perception that the police protect their own men and even when officers are facing charges of serious criminal cases publicising the efforts of the Boards may go some way to alleviate the public perception that the police does not enforce discipline within its ranks she said. It is important to mention that the Police Establishment Board will, in no way challenge the authority of the Chief Minister or the Home Minister instead the board contrary will greatly help the Chief Minister and the Home Minister in many ways. The CM or the Home Minister can always intervene in exceptional situations. She also demanded of holding public consultations before introducing the police bill in the assembly. |
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