Sapna K Sangra
I am not over bowled with the honesty and upright approach of Mr. Basant Rath, IPS, the incumbent IGP Traffic J&K for I closely know quite a few who have had the wrath of the system and have been sidelined for exhibiting ethical and morally correct conduct norms. Also, if the system is surviving, it’s surviving because of the honest few. There are innumerable bad elements within all the departments and there are good people within the same departments. While saying this, I am, by no means undermining what Mr. Rath has done so far though my knowledge of the same may be limited to its depiction on social media. My colleague for example shares on Facebook her father’s picture wearing the helmet and she writes “Shukriya Basant Rath ji…my daddy dear is wearing a helmet…shukar hai inko bhi khauf aaya kisi ka…Allah ke baad shayad sirf Basant Rath ji ka hi…” Social media is abuzz with BR Mania to the extent that people are getting divided, more so after the DGP Mr S.P Vaid’s letter to the officer warning him to be in uniform while discharging his duties and adhering to appropriate behaviour while dealing with the public.
The way Rath has managed the traffic chaos in Jammu is exemplary and is indicative, if there is a Will, there is a Way. The public is generally seen breaking the traffic rules can follow and adhere to the same rules if the laws are strictly applied and applied equally to the High and Mighty on one hand and the commoners on the other. His application of Law equally to all is perhaps getting him all the popularity and has made him an overnight hero. What he has achieved could have been achieved by his predecessors had there been that intent. So his intentions, delivery and goal-oriented approach are appreciable.
Now there comes another set of people who are furious with the officer’s body language, usage of certain words and few unavoidable actions while on duty. If one violates the law, he can be punished under the same law but he cannot be abused for his/her conduct as that becomes unlawful itself and that’s perhaps what is getting him the bad name. The alleged unpredictable and erratic behaviour of the officer has been offending quite a few. I do not know Basant Rath as such but I know for sure, if I encounter anyone getting the law enforced unlawfully, I would certainly question that lawfully. People have a lot of tales to share as regards his behaviour in public domain but I am refraining referring to the same for the lack of authenticity. But I did see a video of him interrogating Choudhary Nagar Singh who had surrendered in a case involving his son. The video didn’t get viral as it happens these days but somehow I did get to see that. His usage of language during his interrogation had left me utterly shocked. Being a Sociologist, I dare say even the law offenders have certain rights which need to be protected by officials equally. The reformative approach is all about treating the prisons as hospitals and inmates as patients. But his behaviour was quite unbecoming of an officer of his stature.
I find no wrong in the DGPs order. If Mr Rath can’t conduct himself within rules, he cannot get people to show allegiance to the same set of rules. The moment he is transferred, it’s going to be the same state of affairs again. What Mr Rath ought to understand is the need to institutionalise the system so that the same is carried forward even in his absence. Get people to obey the law without insulting and abusing them. Have respect for the commoners. All those on streets are not Angad Singhs born of IGPs who would go for counter complaint ultimately leading to the friendship between the two. It’s not only the people who are responsible for the mess on the streets; the connivance of the business community with the Municipality is to be questioned.
How could all residential areas in Jammu City become commercial Centre? Who gave building permissions for the same? How could the business be conducted on the roadside? The car accessory shops for e.g. have swallowed the parking spaces. There is a complete nexus that needs to be addressed and that requires an officer like him to have longevity in his tenure. A bit of introspection of his behaviour might just give Jammu public better results. And Uniform is a pride, so why conduct yourself in Civvies? The reality is, not everyone conducting himself in Uniform is right, honest and upright but then, there are Ritualists and Deadwood within all systems.
(The author teaches Sociology at the University of Jammu and is the State Chairperson of SPIC MACAY)
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel