POLICE REFORMS WATCH Networking with Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), New Delhi
43, Kalina, Santacruz East, Mumbai - 400 029. l Tel : 98202 26227 Email : policereformswa...@gmail.com l www.humanrightsinititiative.org 07/07/14 URGENT PRESS STATEMENT Latest National Crime Records Bureau [NCRB] data says Maharashtra tops 2013 Crime Chart. The response to rising crime has to be better policing. But the recently passed Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Bill2014 will lead to policing run by politicians. The Bill has to be overhauled completely through a participatory process. The latest crime figures released by the NCRB have Mumbai and Maharashtra at the top for 2013: · Highest number of custodial deaths in Maharashtra · Mumbai ranks second in crimes against minors, while Maharashtra has most minors who fall foul of the law · Highest number of railways crimes in Maharashtra · Highest number of crimes against women in Maharashtra tops in crimes · Mumbai is the second most unsafe city in India for women. To meet these challenges, the state's response must be better policing - policing which is unbiased, responsive and lawful. The state government will meet this by saying we are working towards this by pushing through the Maharashtra Police (Amendment) Bill 2014 to bring in long awaited changes. The Bill was passed by both Houses of the legislature in the last session, and is now with the Governor for his assent. Police Reforms Watch Mumbai and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) forcefully state that this Bill is a fraud on the people and the process of police reform. The objective of the Bill is to amend the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 to incorporate six directives on police reform laid down by the Supreme Court in 2006. But every directive has been systematically diluted or subverted in the Bill which formalizes excessive political interference in the day to day management of the police. The Bill was passed with hardly any discussion both in the Assembly and the Council. There was zero consultation with the people of Maharashtra, and all indications are that the police leadership was either not consulted or ignored. The police rank and file across the state do not figure at all in the reform of their organization. Dolphy D' Souza, Convenor of Police Reforms Watch Mumbai, states, "While the blame for this Bill stops at the ruling party dispensation of [Congress and NCP], we fail to understand why the Opposition did not put a spirited fight against such an obnoxious Bill. While the State and the City President of the BJP including the Leader of the Opposition [BJP] did raise some objections, they failed to build pressure to defeat the Bill's passage or have it referred to a Select Committee". Maja Daruwala, Director of CHRI, says, "Police reform in the public interest cannot happen in isolation or haste. Maharashtra is in serious need of police reform, but reform which is done in consultation with both the police and the public.The process of drafting a new law must be given the widest publicity. It is our hope the Governor returns the Bill to the legislature and it is then referred to a Select Committee that can facilitate a consultation process". A citizen's campaign, led by PRW and CHRI, has been launched to urge the Governor to invoke his powers under Article 200 of the Constitution of India to withhold his assent to the Bill and send it back to the State Legislature for reconsideration and send recommended changes for both Houses to consider. We appeal to the people of the state to support our campaign for better policing for a safer Maharashtra. Warm regards, Dolphy D'souza Convenor
