(HUMAN RIGHTS/ RIGHTS GROUP/ NHRC) Another watchdog will dampen morale: Cops... Police officers say that another independent watchdog will completely hamper their effective functioning and point towards the “existing pressure” on their functioning with “internal mechanisms” of grievance redressal for citizens, coupled with the never-ending flak from statutorily binding human rights bodies. The police added that the criticism from the general “anti-police” sentiment was already affecting the force’s morale. According to an IPS officer who was a zonal DCP in the city, the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has pulled up the police on several occasions following complaints by citizens. “Although the body has been inactive in recent years, people are sure to get justice if they complain to the MSHRC, which is also generally more sympathetic towards the people,” the officer said. The police also pointed towards departmental inquiries that have led to suspension and in some cases even dismissal of policemen following complaints by people. “The media heavily repo-rts developments where the officers are immediately transferred or suspended pending inquiries when citizens complain against them. The moment they are mistreated by an officer in the police station, the people immediately approach senior officers like ACPs, DCPs and additional CPs, who are quick to order an inquiry and transfer the officer until the probe is finished. Even if the inquiry doesn’t indict him, the senior officer at least fires him verbally, which is enough justice for a complainant,” said an officer. Former DG K. Subramanyam, who retired as the Maharashtra police chief, said that one cannot divorce politics and political figures from a functioning government machinery while criticising the activists’ demand for an independent panel to select the SSC members. “If you want a panel to select the SSC members, then who will select that panel? Then there should also be a fourth panel to appoint me-mbers of this panel. This will go on for donkey years and is daft. Why should a politician be stopped from selecting a member he holds in high regard? If the police is completely independent, then corrupt officers will run amok without any accountability which will can have unimaginable consequences,” Mr Subramanyam said. (Asian Age 14/2/14)
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 11:40:53 +0000
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