Thomas to head 3-member Monitoring Committee for police reforms:SC

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) The Supreme Court today appointed Justice (Retd) K T Thomas as the Chairman of a three-member Monitoring Committee to oversee the progress in the implementation of its direction dated September 22, 2006 for police reforms to make the functioning of police more effective in the country.

The apex court had directed the Centre and the State to appoint a National Police Commission and State Police Commission respectively, for implementing the suggestions made by the government appointed committees for introducing and implementing the recommendations for looking after the interests of the police personnel to make their functions more effective and efficient. The directions were issued by the Supreme Court on a PIL filed by former DG of UP police Prakash Singh.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices H K Sema and P P Naolekar also directed that one of the two members of the Monitoring Committee will be selected by Justice Thomas, while the other member will be nominated by the Union Home Ministry.

The Monitoring Committee will review and assess the progress made in the implementation of the directions of the Supreme Court and shall also help the Centre and the State governments in resolving the practical problems faced by them in implementing the court's directions.

The apex court has directed to separate the task of investigation of a crime from the duty of maintaining law and order.

UNI SC LPB RP KN2115