Annual Report 1999-2000
3.37 As of 31 March 2000, all States except Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat,
Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Manipur, Nagaland, Orissa, Punjab, West Bengal and the
Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh and Pondicherry had
confirmed that these guidelines were being incorporated in their training curriculum
and that suitable instructions had been passed to the Police Stations for their
implementation. The Commission strongly urges the remaining States and Union
Territories to also follow suit and take further action on the guidelines.
Constitution of District Complaint Authority
3.38 In a further measure to deal with the perception that public authorities abuse and
misuse their powers and violate the human rights of innocent citizens, the Commission
requested the Chief Jusdces of the High Courts and Chief Ministers/Administrators of
States/Union Territories to consider issuing directions to District Judges to constitute a
'District Complaint Authority' in their respective jurisdictions, with the Principal District
Judge as the Cliairman and the District Collector/Deputy Commissioner and Senior
Superintendant of Police as members of the Committee, to examine the grievances of
the public (Annexure V 'A' and 'B').
3.39 The High Courts which are yet to respond to the Commission's request in this regard
are those of Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab & Haryana,
Himachal Pradesh, Madras, Rajasthan, Bombay, Gawahad, Allahabad, Kamataka, Delhi,
Orissa, Calcutta, Gujarat and Patna. The State and Union Territory Governments ^vhich
have not yet responded are those of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir,
ICamataka, Kerda, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkira, Tamil Nadu, West
Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman Sc Diu,
Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. The matter is being pursued with them.
Measures to Improve Police-Community Relationship
3.40 The bulk of the complaints received by the Commission concern the conduct of
the police. Most of them relate to alleged acts of commission or omission on the part
of the police in the course of invesdgadon. The complaints thus relate to the non
registration of complaints, delayed invesdgadons, invesdgadons not being done objecdvely
and impartially, and the inaccessibility of police officers. The Commission is of the view
that to be effective and successful, the police must earn the trust, confidence and respect
of those living in individual jurisdicdons.
3.41 The Commission has, accordingly, through its Circular (Annexure VI), advised all
the States to follow certain specific suggestions designed to improve public confidence
in the police and the police-public reladonship, in order to effecdvely prevent the
violadon of law and to improve crime detecdon and respect for Human Rights.
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