Police Complaints Authority an eyewash: Jakhar
Saturday, 26/07/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140726/punjab.htm#17
Abohar : Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sunil Jakhar said the state government had tweaked not only the recommendations of the National Police Commission but also the Supreme Court’s directions in creating the Police Complaints Authority at the state as well as the district level.
He said, “It is nothing more than a hogwash attempt to make changes in the Police Act, which will serve no purpose. The Akali-BJP government does not want to establish any transparency in the police administration and wants Akali jathedars to control the police stations like before. The common man will continue to suffer injustice as before at the hands of the highly politicised police force.” If the directions of the apex court are not complied with in its true letter and spirit then, he would approach the court, Jakhar warned.
“While the directions of the apex court mandate that the head of the complaints authority at the state level shall be chosen by the state government out of a panel proposed by the Chief Justice and who may be retired high court/Supreme Court Judge and the heads at the district level shall be chosen by the panel proposed by the Chief Justice or by the judge of the high court nominated by him, the Punjab Government is bypassing it to appoint officers of its own choice…
“Such an authority, which would be a stooge of the government in power, cannot deliver justice and by creating such an authority, the state government has indulged in eyewash and the real purpose to have an independent agency to check police’s arbitrariness remains defeated,” he said.
