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Implement Police Commission report: NHRC

By J. Venkatesan

New Delhi Dec. 29. Describing the "Godhra-related riots" in Gujarat as a warning for the rest of the country, the National Human Rights Commission has urged the Central and State Governments to implement the recommendations of the National Police Commission to ensure independence of the police in the investigation of crimes.

The Commission, in its report for 2001 and 2002 laid in Parliament in the just-concluded winter session, pointed out that the Police Commission's recommendations had not been acted upon and were pending with the Centre despite the best efforts of the NHRC to have the report implemented.

In response to the NHRC's earlier letters in this regard, the Centre had informed the Commission that `Police' being a State subject, the Centre at best could lead and give guidance. The Centre also said that "crucial recommendations of the Police Commission relating to constitution of State Security Commission/selection of Director-General of Police, insulation of investigation from undue pressure etc could not be implemented."

Reacting to this, the NHRC said "the Commission is fully familiar with this melancholy history of failure and of the lack of political and administrative will that it signifies to revive the quality of policing in this country to save it from the catastrophic `extraneous influences' that are ruining the investigative work of the Police."

It, therefore, urged the Central and State Governments once again, taking the Gujarat situation as a warning and catalyst, to act with determination to implement the various police reforms.

The Commission said there was an urgent need for the State Governments to set up a credible mechanism for selection of police chiefs and the Centre must pursue the matter with the States. "It is shocking to hear, a matter of common knowledge, that in some States the tenure of Superintendent of Police is on an average only a few months and transfers are made for whimsical reasons.

Apart from demoralising the police force, it has also the adverse effect of politicising the personnel."

It urged that the matter of police reform receive attention at the highest level at the Centre and in the States and that this issue be pursued with greater interest. "The rot that has set in must be cured if the rule of law is to prevail," the report added.

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