Plea in SC seeking implementation of Model Police Act

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre, state governments and the Law Commission for implementation of police reforms and the Model Police Act, 2006.

The plea sought direction to the concerned authorities and sought implementation of the Act saying it is essential to have an "effective and impartial police system".

"That arbitrary and unaccountable functioning of the police has led to complete alienation of many citizens from the State. Complete politicisation of the police force has led to highly partisan crime investigation.

"State governments have been habitually abusing their powers to drop serious criminal charges against their supporters and foist false cases against their opponents," the plea filed by BJP spokesperson advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay said.
 

The petition further sought direction from the court for an effective impartial and professionally independent police to uphold the rule of law.

"Expeditious implementation of the Model Police Act-2006 is not only necessary to ensure effective impartial independent complete and comprehensive investigation but also essential to instill confidence in victim families and public at large," the plea said.

The BJP leader also said it is the constitutional obligation of the state to provide impartial police service to safeguard vulnerable sections of the society including the economically weaker section and below poverty line families.

"The Model Police Act-2006 creates mechanism and processes which will help the police perform, its functions more efficiently and also enhance its credibility in the eyes of the public," he said.

The plea sought direction for setting up of State Police Board under the chairmanship of the State Home Minister and comprising the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police among others to lay down policy guidelines for efficient policing.