Noting that public expectations on law and order and policing are increasing, the Centre today asked state governments to come onboard with it and implement the recommendations of the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC).
"No words can express the importance of this conference. Public order and police today in India is facing challenges. With the ever-changing social landscape and the ever-rising public expectations, the load on the police force will only increase further with an enhanced focus on accountability and transparency in police functioning," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said after inaugurating the Chief Ministers' meet on 'public order' here.
The pressure will increase from all stakeholders on not only issues like better detection, investigation and crime prevention but also on providing a better working environment for police, the minister said.
"Under these circumstances, it becomes incumbent upon us to put our heads together and take stock of the existing situation and recommendations under consideration so that we can come to a considered view on all the issues. We hope to achieve this during our deliberations today," Shinde said.
The Minister said although he had written to all the CMs last year in order to get their views on the ARC's 153 recommendations in this regard, he had got replies from only a "few states and Union Territories".
Under the chairmanship of Veerappa Moily, the second ARC was setup in August, 2005 to suggest measures for achieving a "proactive, responsive, accountable, sustainable and efficient administration for the country at all levels of the government." The Commission submitted its report in June, 2007 to the government.
Out of its total 165 recommendations, 153 fall in the domain of the states and hence it is important, Shinde said, that they are "on board before we go ahead and take a final decision in the matter".
The recommendations of the 2nd ARC cover police reforms, management of public order, reforms in the criminal justice system, federal crimes and special laws and the role of civil society and media in the management of public order.
