Haryana undertakes police reforms

Chandigarh, Oct 12 (UNI) The Haryana government is undertaking police reforms on the directions of the Supreme Court so as to enhance the efficiency of the force as law enforcing agency and as an institution to protect the rights of the citizens.

''The guidelines for reforms are being framed following a directive from the Supreme Court to Union Government, State Governments and Union Territories for framing appropriate legislation,'' an official spokesnan said.

He said the Haryana Home Department was contemplating to set up a State Security Commission to ensure that the state police always acts according to the law of the land and the constitution of the country. The Chief Minister or Home Minister would be its Chairman and the Director General of Police of the State would act as ex-officio Secretary of the Commission, he added.

The Commission would lay down the broad policies and give directions for the performance of the preventive tasks and the service oriented functions of the police evaluation.

It would also prepare a report regarding the performance of the state police for placing the same before the State Legislative assembly. The department was also in the process of formulating Police Establishment Board, which would decide all transfers, postings, promotions and other service related matters of the officers below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. .

A Police Complaints Authority, both at the state and district levels, would also be set up. The state level Police Complaints Authority would look into the complaints against Superintendents of Police and those above in rank and it would be headed by a retired Judge of High Court or Supreme Court.

Similarly, the district level Complaints Authority would hear the complaints against the DSP or below rank police personnel and it would be headed by a retired District and Sessions Judge.

UNI MA VD KP1713