One Nation One Uniform for Police

One Nation One Uniform for Police

Subject: Governance/Security

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the first Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) of state home ministers and top police officers, pitched the idea of a single uniform for police forces across the country.

Concept:

• The Prime Minister stressed that all the states should think of a ‘one nation, one uniform’ policy.
• It will also provide profit and also will give a common identity to law enforcement as citizens will recognise police personnel anywhere in the country.
• Just like there is a post box that has a distinct identity, police uniforms should be identifiable uniformly across the country.

About One Nation One Police

• The Government of India has been talking of “One Nation, One Ration Card”, “One Nation, One Registry”, “One Nation, One Gas Grid”, and even “One Nation, One Election”.
• These ideas are laudable and would contribute to an integrated scheme in different facilities and networks across the country.
• However, in Police related matters, we are confronted with a situation where states are legislating different Police Acts. Eighteen states have already passed Police Acts.

Need for One Nation, One Police:

• First, in the absence of central guidelines, many states have passed their respective acts to give legislative cover to the existing arrangement.
• This has allowed them to circumvent the implementation of judicial directions on police reforms given in the Prakash Singh case, 2006.
• Second, the archaic police structure continues is not able to meet the democratic aspirations of the people.
• Third, a greater uniformity was observed in colonial times for better policing. The Police Act legislated in 1861.

History of Police Act

• The Police Act legislated in 1861 applied to almost the whole of India.
• The colonial government was of the view that the “conditions of police service, machinery and work must be fairly uniform throughout India”.
• The Police Commission appointed by Lord Curzon in 1902 found that the Act V of 1861was not applicable in the provinces of Madras and Bombay — it, therefore, recommended that the Act be enforced in these provinces as well.
• In due course, the states passed their own Police Regulations/Manuals, but these were essentially within the framework of the central legislation.
• It is a galling thought, but the British showed greater vision and far-sightedness in the matter.

SC guidelines on Prakash Singh Case, 2006 :

In September 2006, the court issued various directions to the centre and states including:

• Constitute a State Security Commission in every state that will lay down policy for police functioning, evaluate police performance, and ensure that state governments do not exercise unwarranted influence on the police.
• Constitute a Police Establishment Board in every state that will decide postings, transfers and promotions for officers below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, and make recommendations to the state government for officers of higher ranks.
• Constitute Police Complaints Authorities at the state and district levels to inquire into allegations of serious misconduct and abuse of power by police personnel.
• Provide a minimum tenure of at least two years for the DGP and other key police officers (e.g., officers in charge of a police station and district) within the state forces, and the Chiefs of the central forces to protect them against arbitrary transfers and postings.
• Ensure that the DGP of state police is appointed from amongst three senior-most officers who have been empanelled for the promotion by the Union Public Service Commission on the basis of length of service, good record and experience.
• Separate the investigating police from the law and order police to ensure speedier investigation, better expertise and improved rapport with the people.
• Constitute a National Security Commission to shortlist the candidates for appointment as Chiefs of the central armed police forces.