States seek more time from SC for reforms

New Delhi, Jan 3 (UNI) A majority of states in the country today sought more time for implementing the directions of the Supreme Court to set up State Security Commission(SSC) to ensure that the state police remains free from the political and government pressure while discharging its duties.

The apex court had issued the directions on September 22 last year.

Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh have expressed their inability to set up SSC.

Andhra chief secretary J Hari Naryan in his affidavit has stated that there are practical and legal difficulties in enforcing the directions of this court and the order may be modified.

The south Indian state has pointed out to the court that leader of opposition can not be made member of the SSC as it will be disastrous for the functioning of the government.If the recommendations of the SSC are made binding on the state government than it will not be able to discharge its responsibility of maintaining law and order situation in the state which is the responsibility of the state cabinet that is accountable to the state legislature.

According to the state government, the order of the apex court presupposes that the state government exercises undue influence on the police and the state police also acts under the undue pressure of the government and are not acting in accordance with law which is not correct in every case.

Setting up of SSC as watchdog will also demoralise the police force in the state. Andhra Pradesh has sought modification of the directions of the court and has sought more time for implementing the same.

The Chandigarh Administration has categorically said that it is not possible to set up SSC as there is no DGP there and the law and order is the responsibility of the Centre and to top it all the population of Chandigarh is below ten lakhs and hence there is no serious law and order problem.

Other states and union territories which have filed their affidavits include Bihar, Madhya Pardesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, J&K,Delhi, Sikkim and union territories of Andaman and Nicobar, Daman, Diu and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadeep.

The Centre was also likely to file its affidavit today as the directions of the court were to be implemented last by Dec.

31,2006.

The directions were issued on a PIL filed by former DGP, Uttar Pradesh Parkash Singh.

Interestingly in their affidavits most of the states have sought time for implementing directions on the grounds that the Bill was not ready but none has opposed the directions except AP and Chandigarh which is quite contrary to the indications given in the chief ministers conference in New Delhi that directions can not be implemented.

UNI