3.
Code of Conduct for the Police in India
(Issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and communicated to the Chief Secretaries
of all the States/Union Territories and Heads of Central Police Organization on July
4, 1985.)
1.
The police must bear faithful allegiance to the Constitution of India and respect
and uphold the rights of the citizens as guaranteed by it.
2.
The police should not question the propriety or necessity of any law duly
enacted. They should enforce the law firmly and impartially without fear or
favour, malice and vindictiveness.
3.
The police should recognize and respect the limitation of their powers and
functions. They should not usurp or even seem to usurp the functions of the
judiciary and sit in judgement on cases to avenge individuals and punish
guilty.
4.
In securing the observance of law or in maintaining order, the police should as
far as practicable, use the methods of persuasion, advice and warning. When
the application of force becomes inevitable, only the irreducible minimum
force required in the circumstances should be used.
5.
The prime duty of the police is to prevent crime and disorder and the police
must recognize that the test of their efficiency is the absence of both, and not
the visible evidence of police action in dealing with them.
6.
The police must recognize that they are members of the public, with the only
difference that in the interest of the society and on its behalf they are employed
to give full time attention to duties which are normally incumbent on every
citizen to perform.
7.
The police should realize that the efficient performance of their duties will be
dependent on the extent of ready cooperation that they receive from the
public. This, in turn, will depend on their ability to secure public approval of
their conduct and action and to earn and retain public respect and confidence.
8.
The police should always keep the welfare of the people in mind and be
sympathetic and considerate towards them. They should always be ready to
offer individual service and friendship and render necessary assistance to all
without regard to their wealth and/or social standing.
9.
The police should always place duty before self, should maintain calm in the
face of danger, scorn or ridicule and should be ready to sacrifice their lives in
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