{"id":6982,"date":"2025-08-05T11:50:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T11:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=6982"},"modified":"2025-08-10T10:51:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T10:51:27","slug":"a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/","title":{"rendered":"A Broken System? Why Amending the Police Act is No Longer Optional"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction\"><\/span>Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>On a winter night in December 2024, Somnath Suryawanshi\u2014a 22-year-old law student\u2014died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody in Parbhani, Maharashtra. His body showed over twenty visible injuries. Yet, a First Information Report (FIR) was not registered until eight months later, after a prolonged legal battle and the intervention of the Supreme Court of India.\u00b9 The case, like many others, highlights a grim pattern of impunity within Indian policing.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Introduction\" >Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#The_Origin_of_the_Indian_Police_Act_A_Colonial_Control_Tool\" >The Origin of the Indian Police Act: A Colonial Control Tool<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#The_Fault_Lines_of_the_Current_System\" >The Fault Lines of the Current System<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Unheeded_Warnings_Committees_Commissions_and_Court_Orders\" >Unheeded Warnings: Committees, Commissions, and Court Orders<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#National_Police_Commission_1977%E2%80%9381\" >National Police Commission (1977\u201381)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Padmanabhaiah_Committee_2000\" >Padmanabhaiah Committee (2000)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Malimath_Committee_on_Criminal_Justice_Reform_2003\" >Malimath Committee on Criminal Justice Reform (2003)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Second_Administrative_Reforms_Commission_2007\" >Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2007)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Supreme_Court_Judgment_%E2%80%94_Prakash_Singh_Others_vs_Union_of_India_2006\" >Supreme Court Judgment \u2014 Prakash Singh &amp; Others vs. Union of India (2006)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Recent_Alarming_Incidents_That_Reinforce_the_Need_for_Reform\" >Recent Alarming Incidents That Reinforce the Need for Reform<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Sathankulam_Custodial_Deaths_June_2020\" >Sathankulam Custodial Deaths (June 2020)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Ajith_Kumar_Custodial_Torture_Repeats_June_2025\" >Ajith Kumar: Custodial Torture Repeats (June 2025)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Mishandled_Investigation_in_the_2024_Kolkata_Rape%E2%80%91Murder_Case\" >Mishandled Investigation in the 2024 Kolkata Rape\u2011Murder Case<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#What_Should_a_New_Police_Act_Look_Like\" >What Should a New Police Act Look Like?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Challenges_to_Reform_Whats_Holding_It_Back\" >Challenges to Reform: What\u2019s Holding It Back?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#The_Way_Forward_Making_Reform_Non%E2%80%91Negotiable\" >The Way Forward: Making Reform Non\u2011Negotiable<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/a-broken-system-why-amending-the-police-act-is-no-longer-optional\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>India records an average of five custodial deaths every day, most of which never lead to conviction.\u00b2 This widespread abuse is not a recent development, but the predictable outcome of a legal structure that has remained almost untouched since 1861, the year the Indian Police Act was enacted.<\/p>\n<p>Crafted in the aftermath of the 1857 uprising, the Police Act of 1861 was designed not to serve a democratic population, but to control it. The colonial government needed a force that would be loyal to the Empire, capable of suppressing dissent, and strictly hierarchical in nature. The Act achieved exactly that. It established a police system tightly controlled by the executive, devoid of public accountability, and structured to prioritize the state\u2019s interests over individual liberties.\u00b3<\/p>\n<p>Fast-forward over 160 years: the very skeleton of that colonial design remains intact. Most Indian states still function under the original Police Act or under state legislations that mirror its core features. The question, therefore, is no longer academic but deeply political and moral: can a law written to suppress colonised subjects still define policing in a democratic republic?<\/p>\n<p>India today aspires to be a constitutional democracy based on dignity, liberty, and accountability. Yet, it continues to rely on a policing framework that was never meant to uphold these ideals. The consequences are increasingly visible\u2014in viral videos, in courtrooms, in human rights reports, and most tragically, on the cold floors of custodial cells.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Origin_of_the_Indian_Police_Act_A_Colonial_Control_Tool\"><\/span>The Origin of the Indian Police Act: A Colonial Control Tool<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The year was 1861. Just four years earlier, the Indian subcontinent had witnessed the Revolt of 1857, a nationwide rebellion that jolted the British colonial administration. It exposed the fragility of British control and convinced the Crown that a more organized, watchful, and loyal force was needed\u2014not to serve justice, but to suppress dissent. The result was the Indian Police Act of 1861, a legislation crafted not with democratic ideals in mind, but with imperial anxiety at its core.\u2074<\/p>\n<p>This new police system was designed to serve colonial interests. The structure of the force was strictly centralized and hierarchical, with senior officers reporting directly to British administrators. At the district level, the Superintendent of Police operated under the command of the District Magistrate, ensuring civil police remained closely aligned with the colonial executive.\u2075 The force was neither autonomous nor community-focused; it was the extended arm of the Raj\u2019s authority.<\/p>\n<p>The Act\u2019s ethos was unmistakably imperial. It placed a premium on loyalty, obedience, and discipline, not on protection of rights or democratic accountability. Policing, under this law, was less about public safety and more about control, surveillance, and coercion. Senior posts were typically held by British officers, while Indians were recruited into lower ranks, reflecting the racialized and authoritarian nature of the system.\u2076<\/p>\n<p>This legacy has endured far beyond its creators. Despite India\u2019s independence in 1947 and the adoption of a democratic Constitution, the colonial architecture of policing was never meaningfully dismantled. Many states continue to function under the same or slightly modified versions of the 1861 law. The result? A policing culture still steeped in command-based hierarchy, executive interference, and a mindset that often prioritizes order over rights.\u2077<\/p>\n<p>To reform policing in India, we must confront this uncomfortable truth: a law designed for empire has no place in a democracy.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Fault_Lines_of_the_Current_System\"><\/span>The Fault Lines of the Current System<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A law designed for the Empire has birthed a police structure vulnerable to political interference. The Police Act of 1861 entrenched hierarchical control under the executive. Eight decades later, its legacy continues to undermine the very foundations of democratic policing.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Lack of independence from political interference:<\/strong><br \/>\nUnder the present system, political executives continue to wield unchecked authority over police leadership, transfers, and postings. Formerly subject to colonial administrators, today\u2019s officers remain answerable to elected leaders. Surveys show that nearly two-thirds of police officers report pressure from influential individuals, and those who resist often face punitive transfers.\u2078 This dynamic erodes impartiality and fosters a police culture aligned with power, not justice.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Inadequate protection of citizens\u2019 rights:<\/strong><br \/>\nWithout statutory guidelines safeguarding due process, POW complaints, or FIR registration obligations, police can arbitrarily refuse to file cases or intimidate vulnerable groups. The Act provides no mandate for internal oversight or citizen access to complaint redressal. This gap contributes to widespread complaints of inaction\u2014especially in cases involving marginalized communities or politically connected individuals.\u2079<\/li>\n<li><strong>Absence of internal and external accountability:<\/strong><br \/>\nDespite numerous recommendations from the Padmanabhaiah Committee to the Prakash Singh verdict\u2014the 1861 law mandates no independent bodies for investigating misconduct or wrongful actions. Successive governments have sidestepped reforms or enacted weak statutes that maintain executive primacy. Attempts at reform remain superficial, with no mechanism for public review or independent oversight.\u00b9\u2070<\/li>\n<li><strong>Outdated provisions ill-equipped to tackle modern crimes:<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Act predates the digital era and offers no framework for handling cybercrime, biometric fraud, or transnational investment scams. As seen in Jharkhand, cybercriminals leverage remote locations and virtual IDs to victimize thousands.\u00b9\u00b9 Yet police personnel often lack technical training, investigative autonomy, or legal empowerment to pursue such crimes effectively. The result is a system ill-prepared for evolving threats.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unheeded_Warnings_Committees_Commissions_and_Court_Orders\"><\/span>Unheeded Warnings: Committees, Commissions, and Court Orders<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>India\u2019s journey toward police reform reads like a history of well-intentioned reports gathering dust. Beginning in the late 1970s, a succession of expert bodies and court directives repeatedly diagnosed the system\u2014and proposed remedies. Yet reforms remain largely unfulfilled.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"National_Police_Commission_1977%E2%80%9381\"><\/span>National Police Commission (1977\u201381)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The first major expert review of policing post-independence, the National Police Commission (NPC) produced eight volumes of recommendations, urging measures such as insulating police from political pressure, guaranteeing minimum tenures, reforming recruitment and training, and constituting State Security Commissions.\u00b9\u00b2<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Padmanabhaiah_Committee_2000\"><\/span>Padmanabhaiah Committee (2000)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In 2000, the Government appointed the Padmanabhaiah Committee, chaired by former Home Secretary K. Padmanabhaiah, to assess police capabilities in the new millennium. It recommended reforms around recruitment standards, standardized training, investigative specialization, beat systems, and establishing non-statutory complaint authorities.\u00b9\u00b3<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Malimath_Committee_on_Criminal_Justice_Reform_2003\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legalservicesindia.com\/law\/article\/1983\/39\/The-Report-Of-Malimath-Committee-On-Reforms-Of-Criminal-Justice-System\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Malimath Committee on Criminal Justice Reform (2003)<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This committee offered a sweeping overhaul of criminal justice. Among its 158 proposals: separation of investigation from law-and-order, creation of forensic and specialized squads, establishment of Police Establishment Boards, victim compensation mechanisms, and creation of State and National Security Commissions.\u00b9\u2074<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Second_Administrative_Reforms_Commission_2007\"><\/span>Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2007)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The ARC endorsed earlier recommendations and emphasized the need for independent oversight bodies, grievance mechanisms, and depoliticized policing structures, calling out the absence of functional police complaints authorities and institutional insulation.\u00b9\u2075<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Supreme_Court_Judgment_%E2%80%94_Prakash_Singh_Others_vs_Union_of_India_2006\"><\/span>Supreme Court Judgment \u2014 Prakash Singh &amp; Others vs. Union of India (2006)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In 1996, Prakash Singh (a retired DGP) filed a public interest litigation demanding implementation of NPC recommendations. In September\u202f2006, the Supreme Court issued seven binding directives, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>State Security Commission (SSC) to limit political influence.<\/li>\n<li>Merit-based appointment and two-year tenure for the DGP.<\/li>\n<li>Minimum two-year tenure for district-level officers (SPs and SHOs).<\/li>\n<li>Separation of investigation from law-and-order.<\/li>\n<li>Police Establishment Board to regulate transfers and promotions.<\/li>\n<li>Police Complaints Authorities at state and district levels.<\/li>\n<li>National Security Commission to oversee appointments in central police organisations.\u00b9\u2076<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Despite these instructions, implementation remains scant and slanted. While 18 states passed new or amended Acts post-2006, none adhered wholly to the principles laid out by the Court. Only Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka made SSC recommendations binding. Most states still circumvent transfer norms, ignore complaint bodies, and truncate officer tenures to perpetuate political control.\u00b9\u2077<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recent_Alarming_Incidents_That_Reinforce_the_Need_for_Reform\"><\/span>Recent Alarming Incidents That Reinforce the Need for Reform<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Few events underscore the urgency of reform like the repeated breakdowns in police conduct\u2014even years after landmark recommendations. These incidents reveal not isolated errors, but enduring structural failures.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sathankulam_Custodial_Deaths_June_2020\"><\/span>Sathankulam Custodial Deaths (June 2020)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In Tamil Nadu\u2019s Sathankulam town, J. Jayaraj (62) and his son J. Bennix (32) were arrested for allegedly violating lockdown rules. They were taken to the police station, and horribly tortured with batons and stripped naked. Both died within hours. <a href=\"\/lawyers\/chennai.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Madras High Court<\/a> took suo motu cognisance, ordered a videographed autopsy, and referred the case to the CBI, which arrested multiple officers on murder charges. Still, the trial has dragged on, and justice remains elusive.\u00b9\u2078<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ajith_Kumar_Custodial_Torture_Repeats_June_2025\"><\/span><a href=\"\/legal\/article-17056-understanding-the-constitutional-foundation-of-the-criminal-justice-system-a-comprehensive-analysis.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ajith Kumar: Custodial Torture Repeats (June 2025)<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Five years later, almost in the same region, another case revealed identical patterns\u2014Ajith Kumar was arrested on theft allegations and succumbed to injuries after being beaten outside CCTV range. The Madras High Court reprimanded the police for failing to register an FIR, questioned the legality of the detention, and criticised the lack of transparency and accountability. The SP was merely transferred, not suspended. Once again, third-degree methods led to the victim\u2019s death.\u00b9\u2079<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mishandled_Investigation_in_the_2024_Kolkata_Rape%E2%80%91Murder_Case\"><\/span><a href=\"\/legal\/article-18809-kolkata-rape-case-and-suo-moto-cognizance-through-supreme-court.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mishandled Investigation in the 2024 Kolkata Rape\u2011Murder Case<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In August 2024, a trainee doctor was found murdered inside the R.G. Kar Hospital. The Calcutta High Court flagged serious delays in FIR registration and the Supreme Court had to take suo motu action. A national task force and CBI investigation were instituted after the court criticized the state police\u2019s lapse in managing evidence and engaging promptly with protests and public safety.\u00b2\u2070<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Each case is a painful symbol of how the remaining colonial legal framework still shapes deeply unjust outcomes. These atrocities aren\u2019t accidental\u2014they are engrained in structure and practice.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Should_a_New_Police_Act_Look_Like\"><\/span>What Should a New Police Act Look Like?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To break away from the colonial legacy and establish policing that is modern, rights-respecting, and community\u2011oriented, India needs a comprehensive overhaul of its Police Act. Guided by expert recommendations and global best practices, an updated statute should include the following:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Separation of law &amp; order and investigative functions:<\/strong><br \/>\nThe same officers should not be responsible for both crowd control and crime investigation. Dividing these roles will allow specialization, reduce conflicts of interest, and improve investigative quality. This was a key reform in the Prakash Singh directives and the Model Police Act.\u00b2\u00b9<\/li>\n<li><strong>Independent state and district police complaints authorities:<\/strong><br \/>\nPublic grievances and internal misconduct must be addressed by bodies wholly independent of the police \u2014 with retired judges, civil society members, and access to meaningful redress. Currently, over two-thirds of states lack functional authorities, and complaint disposal rates are abysmally low.\u00b2\u00b2<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fixed tenures and transparent postings:<\/strong><br \/>\nOfficers such as DGPs, SPs, and SHOs should have minimum two-year tenures and appointments based on merit, not political influence. Transparent transfer and promotion decisions should be made by Police Establishment Boards.\u00b2\u00b3<\/li>\n<li><strong>Community Policing &amp; Public Trust Mechanisms:<\/strong><br \/>\nEffective policing requires partnerships with the community. Models like Police Mitra volunteers, neighborhood policing clusters, and household outreach programs (e.g. Karnataka\u2019s \u201cMane Mane Police\u201d) foster trust, information-sharing, and collective safety.\u00b2\u2074<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gender- and Human Rights-Sensitive Policing:<\/strong><br \/>\nA modern Act must mandate gender sensitivity training, dedicated women\u2019s help desks or battalions, and special teams to handle crimes against women and children. Encouragingly, states like Andhra Pradesh have seen major success with Shakthi Teams, consisting of women-led patrols, resulting in thousands of rescues and convictions in gender-based violence cases.\u00b2\u2076<\/li>\n<li><strong>Integration of Technology, Training, and Modern Tools:<\/strong><br \/>\nDigitisation should be integral\u2014automated arrest memos, interoperable justice systems, body cameras, mobile forensic units, and real-time evidence tracking should be mandated. Equally critical are standardized training modules in AI, forensics, communication skills, and community outreach under a unified curriculum.\u00b2\u2077<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Challenges_to_Reform_Whats_Holding_It_Back\"><\/span>Challenges to Reform: What\u2019s Holding It Back?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Despite decades of recommendations, the transformation of India\u2019s policing remains stalled. Four major roadblocks continue to obstruct meaningful change:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Political Resistance:<\/strong><br \/>\nAt the heart of the resistance is the political class\u2019s reluctance to relinquish control. The current policing system\u2014rooted in colonial logic\u2014serves as a powerful tool in the hands of those in power. Chief Ministers, Home Ministers, and local politicians often exercise informal control over police transfers, investigations, and postings. Reforming the system would mean limiting this discretion. It\u2019s unsurprising, then, that many states responded to the Supreme Court\u2019s 2006 Prakash Singh judgment not by implementing its directives, but by passing watered-down laws that maintained the status quo.\u00b2\u2078<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bureaucratic Inertia:<\/strong><br \/>\nEven where the judiciary has laid down clear reforms, the bureaucracy has often stalled or diluted them in implementation. Administrative officers, too, have vested interests in retaining influence over the police. For example, provisions requiring fixed tenures for police officers or the establishment of independent complaint authorities have been bypassed through executive orders, re-interpretations, or sheer delay.\u00b2\u2079<\/li>\n<li><strong>Weak Public Pressure:<\/strong><br \/>\nDespite periodic outrage following custodial deaths or police excesses, public pressure for structural reform remains sporadic. Police issues are often seen as remote from daily life unless one is personally affected. Unlike in democratic societies where institutional reform is demanded by civil society, media, and bar associations, India has not seen sustained citizen movements for police accountability.\u00b3\u2070 The 2006 Prakash Singh directives remain unfamiliar to much of the public.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Evasion by States:<\/strong><br \/>\nPerhaps the most disheartening challenge is the trend of token compliance. Over 18 states have enacted new Police Acts after 2006, but most have been criticized for merely cosmetic changes. For example, Police Complaints Authorities lack independence, often staffed by serving bureaucrats. State Security Commissions\u2014meant to insulate the police from political interference\u2014either do not function or exist in form but not substance.\u00b3\u00b9<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Way_Forward_Making_Reform_Non%E2%80%91Negotiable\"><\/span>The Way Forward: Making Reform Non\u2011Negotiable<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If India is to transform policing into a people-centric, accountable, and professional institution, reform is not optional\u2014it is imperative. Below are essential pillars that should guide a new Police Act and its enduring implementation.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Model Police Act &amp; Centre\u2011State Cooperation:<\/strong><br \/>\nA modern statute must align across the country, and the Centre should offer a Model Police Act, guiding states to adopt reforms that adhere to the Prakash Singh directives. Supreme Court monitoring in 2008 through the Thomas Committee underscores the necessity of sustained oversight, yet progress stalled due to state-level resistance.<br \/>\nURL: www.humanrightsinitiative.org\/publications\/police\/Prakash_Singh_Judgment_SC_directives_2006.pdf<\/li>\n<li><strong>Civil Society &amp; Judicial Engagement:<\/strong><br \/>\nCivil society organisations such as the Indian Police Foundation and Common Cause have been instrumental in advocating for reform, researching best practices, and litigating for implementation.<br \/>\nURL: www.policefoundationindia.org<br \/>\nURL: www.commoncause.in<br \/>\nCourts, too, remain critical actors\u2014not because implementation is easy, but because they can expose delays and compel accountability through follow\u2011up mandates. This dual pressure is essential.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Media &amp; Public Awareness Campaigns:<\/strong><br \/>\nMedia and public mobilization can be transformative. Awareness campaigns\u2014whether highlighting systemic failures or successful initiatives like Mission Shakti or community policing schemes\u2014build pressure on the political establishment.<br \/>\nURL: www.wcd.nic.in\/schemes\/mission-shakti<\/li>\n<li><strong>Potential for Transformative Change:<\/strong><br \/>\nConcrete steps are already underway: examples include Nashik police forming WhatsApp groups in over 2,200 villages, and Mysuru\u2019s \u201cMane Mane Police\u201d officers making door-to-door contact to resolve local grievances.<br \/>\nTraining upgrades\u2014such as Lucknow\u2019s forensic and digital labs at UPSIFS\u2014equip officers to handle cybercrime and technology-led investigations.<br \/>\nURL: www.upsifs.org<br \/>\nGender-sensitive programs like Uttar Pradesh\u2019s Mission Shakti have strengthened women\u2019s safety. These models prove reforms can be impactful, scalable, and community-centered.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Indian police must undergo a fundamental transformation from being a force of coercion to becoming a service grounded in public trust, transparency, and accountability. This is not merely an administrative necessity. It is a moral obligation and a democratic imperative.<\/p>\n<p>The existing model, rooted in the Indian Police Act of 1861, was designed to protect rulers, not serve the ruled. That colonial legacy still echoes in the way law enforcement engages with protests, dissent, and marginalized communities. Even today, the uniform often represents power, not protection; fear, not reassurance.<\/p>\n<p>A reimagined police force must be guided by a new social contract\u2014one where the citizen is at the center. This includes the right to safety without fear, the right to dignity during police interaction, and equality before the law, regardless of caste, class, or gender.<\/p>\n<p>The groundwork for this already exists: expert committee reports, Supreme Court directives, state-level experiments, and citizen voices. What has been missing is the political will and public urgency to implement them sincerely.<\/p>\n<p>It is time we break from the chains of colonial command structures and build a policing system that upholds constitutional values, embraces modern tools and training, and most importantly, respects the people it serves.<\/p>\n<p>Because in a democracy, the legitimacy of the police does not come from the barrel of a gun\u2014but from the trust of the people.<\/p>\n<p><b>End Notes:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\u201cSC directs registration of FIR in alleged Parbhani custodial death case\u201d, The Times of India, 2024. Link: thetimesofindia.com<\/li>\n<li>\u201cIndia: Over 1,888 custodial deaths in 2022\u20132023\u201d, National Campaign Against Torture (NCAT) Report. Also cited in The Hindu, 2023. Link: thehindu.com<\/li>\n<li>Sas Law Chambers Blog, \u201cThe Police Act of 1861: An In-depth Analysis of Its Origin, Impact, and Modern-Day Relevance\u201d, 2023.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cThe Police Act, 1861 was enacted to reorganize the police system in British India after the mutiny of 1857.\u201d \u2014 Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, &#8220;The Police Act 1861: Why We Need to Replace It&#8221;, Link: chri.org<\/li>\n<li>\u201cThe structure of the police was made vertical and authoritarian&#8230;\u201d \u2014 S. Subramanian, \u201cColonial Legacy of Indian Policing\u201d, The Hindu, August 2020.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cThe training and outlook of the police emphasized colonial values\u2026\u201d \u2014 R. K. Raghavan, \u201cPolicing in India: Past Perspectives\u201d, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 35, No. 34, 2000.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cIndependent India retained the 1861 Act&#8230;\u201d \u2014 Prakash Singh, &#8220;India\u2019s Police: Imperatives for Reform&#8221;, 2013.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cAlmost two-thirds (of officers) said they had faced pressure\u2026\u201d \u2014 Devika Prasad &amp; CHRI report summary. Link: reddit.com<\/li>\n<li>\u201cInstances of refusal to file reports\u2026\u201d \u2014 Law enforcement in India article.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cThe Act imposes no independent oversight&#8230;\u201d \u2014 The Sordid Story of Colonial Policing in Independent India, The Wire.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cIn 2025 alone, Jharkhand reported 340 cyber fraud cases\u2026\u201d \u2014 Times of India, &#8220;Changing landscape of cybercrime in Jharkhand&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li>National Police Commission (1977\u201381) recommendations. Sources: testbook.com, preparingforias.com<\/li>\n<li>Padmanabhaiah Committee (2000) reforms. Sources: thegeostrata.com, testbook.com<\/li>\n<li>Malimath Committee (2002\u201303) recommendations. Sources: thehindu.com, forumias.com<\/li>\n<li>Second ARC (2007) findings. Sources: testbook.com, prep4ias.com<\/li>\n<li>Prakash Singh v. Union of India (2006) directives. Sources: testbook.com, en.wikipedia.org<\/li>\n<li>Implementation issues with directives. Sources: testbook.com, en.wikipedia.org<\/li>\n<li>Jayaraj-Bennix custodial deaths in Sathankulam. Sources: The Quint, Indian Express<\/li>\n<li>Ajith Kumar custodial death in Sivagangai. Sources: CJP report, ThePrint<\/li>\n<li>Kolkata hospital rape-murder mishandling. Source: Wikipedia<\/li>\n<li>Model Police Act (2006) features. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, forceindia.net<\/li>\n<li>States lacking functional Police Complaints Authorities. Sources: prsindia.org, barandbench.com<\/li>\n<li>Tenure and appointment reforms. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, drishtiias.com<\/li>\n<li>Community policing models. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, timesofindia.com<\/li>\n<li>Gender-sensitive policing infrastructure. Sources: pwc.com, timesofindia.com<\/li>\n<li>Andhra Pradesh tech-led modernization. Source: timesofindia.com<\/li>\n<li>Standing Committee on Home Affairs AI\/tech training recommendations. Source: sanskritiias.com<\/li>\n<li>CHRI, \u201cPolice Reforms in the States: A 15-Year Review\u201d, 2021. Link: https:\/\/humanrightsinitiative.org<\/li>\n<li>The Hindu, \u201cSupreme Court directives on police reform not implemented fully: Prakash Singh,\u201d 2020. Link: https:\/\/www.thehindu.com<\/li>\n<li>The Print, \u201c14 years on, police reforms stuck. Public pressure missing,\u201d 2020. Link: https:\/\/theprint.in<\/li>\n<li>Frontline, \u201cThe Unreformed Force,\u201d 2020. Link: https:\/\/frontline.thehindu.com<\/li>\n<li>Common Cause &amp; Thomas Committee findings on non-compliance. Source: Common Cause Journal summary<\/li>\n<li>Indian Police Foundation &amp; Common Cause roles in reform. Sources: Wikipedia<\/li>\n<li>Judiciary\u2019s role in reform: Joginder Kumar, DK Basu guidelines. Sources: Aspire IAS, KnowLaw blog, The Hindu<\/li>\n<li>Successful state-level innovations (UP, Karnataka). Sources: Times of India<\/li>\n<li>Nashik WhatsApp engagement, \u201cMane Mane Police\u201d in Mysuru. Source: Times of India<\/li>\n<li>UPSIFS Digital Diagnostic Lab &amp; training. Source: Times of India<\/li>\n<li>Mission Shakti, women-led policing initiative in UP. Source: Times of India<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Award-Winning Article Written By: Ms.Disha Sania<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 0; width: auto; height: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/images\/ae-1.png\" alt=\"Certificate of Excellence awarded by Legal Service India\" \/><figcaption>Authentication No: AU558546134294-07-0825<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction On a winter night in December 2024, Somnath Suryawanshi\u2014a 22-year-old law student\u2014died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody in Parbhani, Maharashtra. His body showed over twenty visible injuries. Yet, a First Information Report (FIR) was not registered until eight months later, after a prolonged legal battle and the intervention of the Supreme Court<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":294,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[28],"class_list":{"0":"post-6982","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-administrative","7":"tag-top-news"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/294"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6982"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6982\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}