Separate crime investigation from police functions: reforms pane

New Delhi, June 25 (UNI) The Second Administrative Reforms Commission on Public Order has recommended that crime investigations should be separate from other police functions.

Also, obstruction of justice should be defined as an offence under the law. ''It should be stipulated that no government functionary will issue any instructions to any police functionary which are illegal or malafide,'' said commission Chairman M Veerappa Moily.

The commission, submitted its report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, saying there was need to expand forensic facilities and upgrade them technologically. Organisations and persons found guilty of instigating violence should be liable to pay exemplary damages.

''It is necessary to amend section 311 of the Criminal Procedure Code and impose a duty on every court to suo moto cause production of evidence for the purpose of discovering truth, which should be the ultimate test of criminal justice system,'' said the commission's report.

Regarding grave offences like terrorism and organised crimes in the case of refusal by an accused to answer any question put to him, the court may draw an inference from such behaviour, it said.

''There is need to re-examine certain offences which have inter-state or national ramification and include them in a new law.

The law should also prescribe the procedure for investigation and trials of such offences,'' said Mr Moily.

UNI