Implement SC directives on police reforms: J F Ribeiro

Mumbai, Dec 22 (UNI) Former Mumbai Police Commissioner J F Ribeiro today termed the Indian police a ''highly influenced political force.'' Speaking at a panel discussion at the Indian Merchants Chamber here, he defended the September 22, 2006 supreme Court ruling on comprehensive police reforms, and said the executive authority would try every trick at its disposal to delay or not to implement the latest directives.''Hence the civil society in unison as a cohesive force should compel the government in implementing the police reforms,'' he said.

He said the lack of proper accountablity among police officers was the main reason for the ''decay of the force.'' Senior Counsel of the Bombay High Court, Y H Muchhala citing the 1861-US Supreme Court Judgement said countries like the US and Australia had clearly defined the role of police as 'Public Servants', whereas India still had to do so.

Mr Muchhala said various interim reports including the Srikrishna Commssion report had clearly indicted the police for its total intelligence failure during law and order breakdowns. Hence the best and the only way to implement the Supreme Court directives was through dialogue.

Expressing serious concern over the issue, leading social activist and theatre artist Gersen Da Cunha charged that the police department was the most ''manipulative arm of the administration and the executive would never allow to let loose its control of that jewel.'' He demanded that civil society groups, business houses, academic institutions and the media to form a chain to put pressure on the government to implement the reforms soon.

UNI GVS KU YA GC2251