On the 60th anniversary of India's Independence

On the 60th anniversary of India's Independence, it feels good to know that India has people like Prakash Singh, retired director general, Border Security Forces. He can take credit for the Supreme Court ruling in September 2006 that will bring about sweeping police reforms in India. About 10 years ago, he filed a PIL to implement the report of the Indian National Police Commission set up in 1977. His objective was, he says, “to free the police from the stranglehold of politicians and making it accountable to the laws of the land and the Constitution of the country”.
The extraordinary but little-known Supreme Court ruling will definitely achieve this. It will fundamentally alter the functioning of the police force for the first time since 1861. It requires the establishment of three institutions at the state level: a State Security Commission, for policies and directives; a Police Establishment Board, to decide all transfers, postings and promotions; and a Police Complaints Authority, to inquire into allegations of police misconduct.
The clock on this police reform is ticking. States were required to adhere to the Supreme Court’s directive by January 2007; this has been extended to 31 March 2007. In the coming months, we will see an independent police force for the first time in this country. With it, less opportunity for police misconduct. Lower probability of another Sohrabuddin fake encounter. Fewer moral cul-de-sacs for people to get trapped in.
(from Sohrabbudin’s encounter by Ramesh Ramanathan in LiveMint)