Decolonisation? Yes. Let's Reform Our Police

A strong PM who starts the change in BJP states can deliver this, 16 years after SC's landmark judgment

- Gurcharan Das

The police is often in the news, and more than often for the wrong reasons. Our periodic outrage revives the debate on police reform. But we forget that yesterday, September 22, was the 16th anniversary of the Supreme Court's judgment on far-reaching reforms of the police.

That historic judgment held the potential of transforming a ruler's police into a people's police. States were directed to comply with seven binding directives towards systemic reform. But since then, nothing has changed on the ground.

Instead of engaging in a blame game, let's look ahead. India's police is a glaring remnant, founded by our colonial masters in 1861 to perpetuate their rule. Instead of acquiring a new ethos after Independence, the police has morphed into political instrument. No CM will give up control of a powerful weapon under his/her thumb.

We don't trust cops

By any measure, I am a privileged person. Why then am I afraid to go near my police station? If I am scared, imagine how the aam admi feels. It is not an image problem either, to be fixed with good PR. It is rooted in a deep lack of trust. The ordinary person believes the police serves the powerful, not the citizens. A woman especially doesn't feel safe. A survey by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies found that less than 25% of Indians trust the police.