THE STATE OF POLICE REFORMS IN INDIA: POINTS TO PONDER

Abstract

The police system in India owes its existence to the British rule. The provisions of the Police Act of 1861 were originally meant to cater to crime investigation and controlling law and order. However, the whole scenario has changed dramatically. The government has now taken up police reforms. Although much has been done in this regard, a lot more is to be done. In the light of new set of crimes, the need for updating the old system is more than required. In this connection, modern advanced technology has been of immense help. Undoubtedly, this is an age of computers. The first step of police reforms is to make use of computers to make an exhaustive database of crimes committed and of the criminals. The CCTNS is such an ambitious project of the Government of India. The second step of reforms deals with providing better and state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities on the ground to facilitate policing activities. For this, states are providing new and latest vehicles to police personnel to effectively enhance their response time. Their housing and other welfare activities are being taken care of. The third aspect covers their postings for which a fixed tenure has been now envisaged. However, the police force is plagued by undue political interference, pressures of job and sometimes, of superiors which are causing depression in the police force. This needs urgent correction. Thus, the police force is suffering doubly. First, the much-needed police reforms have not been carried out fully and secondly, these reforms do not take care of unbearable mental stress faced by them daily. Unless these reforms address these psychological issues, other reforms might prove to be cosmetic in effect. This paper tries to go deep into the process of ongoing police reforms in the country and their shades of grey too. It also suggests some possible solutions.