MAHARASHTRA GOVERNOR SHOULD RESEND POLICE BILL BACK TO LEGISLATURE FOR PROPER DEBATE Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Police Reforms Watch- Press Statement, 26 June, 2014 Mumbai: It is indeed unfortunate that the government of Maharashtra has last week pushed through the Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Bill 2014 in both Houses of the Legislature. This hugely important law will decide the directions of policing in the state for future decades, yet the government has seen fit to pass it in haste without public consultation, and even at this date it is still to be seen on official websites. Under the guise of complying with the Supreme Court’s directives on police reform in the Prakash Singh case, the new Bill has been deliberately designed to defeat its intentions of giving the public a capable,well-managed and accountable police. By diluting and subverting each one of the 6 directives, the Bill in fact formalises the very practices of unwarranted political interference with every day police management that the Court had sought to reduce. The Bill must be overhauled to be made fit for purpose. The Bill presently awaits the Governor’s assent. We strongly urge the Governor to invoke his powers under Article 200 of the Constitution of India to withhold his assent to the Bill, send the Bill back to the State Legislature for reconsideration, and send recommended changes for both Houses to consider. Speaking on the subject, Mrs. Maja Daruwala, Director of CHRI, says, “The Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Bill 2014 is totally unacceptable. We urge the Governor of Maharashtra to send the Bill back to the state Legislature for reconsideration. Policing is a serious business that affects the safety and security of all citizens. This Bill requires fundamental changes if it is to be in compliance with the Supreme Court's directives and have the possibility of reforming the police in the public interest”. · Mrs Maja Daruwala, Director Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative · Mr. Dolphy D Souza, Convenor, Police Reforms Watch, Mumbai For more information Contact, Mr. Dolphy D Souza, Convenor, Police Reforms Watch, Mumbai; Ph: 98202 26227, policereformswa...@gmail.com -- Aditi Datta Senior Programme Officer, Police Reforms Programme Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative B-117, Sarvodaya Enclave, Second Floor New Delhi 110017 INDIA Ph: 91 1146085477, 45804529 Fax: 91 11 26864688 Visit Network for Improved Policing in South Asia (NIPSA): http://www.nipsa.in/ More info on our website: www.humanrightsinitiative.org CHRI is an independent, non partisan, international non-governmental organization headquartered in New Delhi.
