Models of various States included in PRA
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 29: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has finally given his nod to Police Reforms Act (PRA), which had been hanging fire for past more than three years, and directed the Home Department, held by him, to put it on website of the Department in the next few days. After public opinion, the reforms bill would be introduced in the Legislature for making it a law.
The PRA when passed by the Legislature will lead to introduction of Commissioner system in the Police Department for the first time, mainly in twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar, which have qualified for it after their population crossed 10 lakh each.
Principal Secretary, Home BR Sharma told the Excelsior that a draft of the PRA has nearly been finalized and would be put on official website of the Home Department in the next few days.
“The draft Act has been prepared after studying the models of various States including metro cities. Still, we would go for public opinion and put it on the official website to elicit public opinion and make some changes, if required before it was introduced in the Legislature”, Mr Sharma said.
The officials of the Home Department had toured various States to study the model of Police Commissioner system and other reforms in the Police Act and prepared a draft for the State, sources said, adding that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has given nod for putting the PRA on the website before making it a comprehensive legislation.
Sources said some expert opinion has also been obtained from within the State and outside on the PRA. They added that the Home Department wanted to complete entire process on the PRA before next session of the Legislature, which would be held either in September end or early October so that it was introduce in the autumn session. After putting the PRA on website and eliciting the public opinion, the Home Department would finalise the legislation, which would be introduced in the Legislature by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for making it a law.
The Home Department has approached various States where such a law has already been enacted as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court. The opinion of some States was incorporated to make the law a comprehensive one, sources said.
Major components of the Police Reforms Act included switching over to Police Commissioner system in two capital cities of the State-Jammu and Srinagar-which have crossed the population of 10 lakh each as per the latest census, a major requirement for appointment of the Police Commissioners with Magisterial and all other powers.
In addition, the Act proposed setting up of a State Security Commission, an Establishment Board and fixed tenure posting for police officers among other reforms.
According to sources, the Government was weighing pros and cons on the appointment of Commissioners for the two capital cities. While in some of the cities across the country, the Commissioners were of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), there were some cities where their rank was of DIG or even SSPs.
The Government wanted to be sure about the success of new system before taking a decision on the rank of police officers to be appointed as the Commissioners. “This was the prime reason that the Home Department went for a detailed study of the Commissioner system of various States before taking a decision on its own system for Jammu and Srinagar cities and incorporating it in the Police Reforms Act”, sources said, adding that as far as other reforms in the Act were concerned, they have already been finalized.
It may be mentioned here that a number of States have already introduced the reforms mentioned in the Police Reforms Act while others were in the process of doing so. The apex court had asked the States to implement six major guidelines of the Police Reforms Act as early as possible.
It may be mentioned that even after fulfilling the population and other criteria for introduction of Commissioner system in twin rotational capital cities of the State, Jammu and Srinagar cities still lacked the system, which could give a major boost to the Police Department.
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