• PM Modi stressed the need for police reform while addressing the 60th All India Conference of Director Generals in Raipur, held under the theme of ‘Viksit Bharat: Security Dimensions’.

Need for Police Reforms in India

1. Political and Structural Inertia

• Structural Stagnation: Colonial-era institutional design restricts flexibility and undermines democratic policing. Ten states still use frameworks derived from the Police Act 1861.
• Non-Compliance: Supreme Court directives to create independent police boards and fixed-tenure systems remain unmet. Not a single state in India has fully complied with all Prakash Singh directives.
• Political Pressure: Political leverage over postings forces officers to prioritise political interests over the rule of law. 72% personnel faced political pressure in cases involving influential persons. (SPIR 2019).
• Weak Oversight: Inadequate complaint bodies render public grievance redressal ineffective. 30% of functional State Police Complaints Authorities (SPCAs) lack a judicial member (IJR 2022).

2. Workforce and Capacity Crisis

• Work Fatigue: Excessive duty hours and inconsistent weekly rest impair on-ground performance. An average police workday is 14 hours (SPIR 2019).
• Promotion Stagnation: Limited promotion avenues reduce motivation for the bulk of the workforce. Constables form 86% of the force, but often retire with only one promotion after 30 years.
• Training Deficit: Outdated training fails to prepare officers for modern forensics, cybercrime, or human-rights compliance. 64% received no in-service training in the last 5 years (IJR 2022).

3. Diversity & Trust Deficit

• Gender Gap: Low female participation restricts gender-sensitive policing in sensitive cases. Women comprise 12% of the police force, far below the 33% target.
• Minority Bias: Weak minority representation in higher ranks reduces perceived neutrality. Despite forming 14% of the population, Muslims constitute only 3-4% of the police force.
• Trust Deficit: Fear of police aggression discourages crime reporting and community cooperation. CSDS Survey shows 14% of citizens are “highly fearful” of the police

4. Human Rights & Infrastructure Issues

• Custodial Violence: The absence of an anti-torture law allows “third-degree” methods to continue without consequences. India signed the UNCAT in 1997, but has yet to ratify it.
• Infrastructure Deficit: Lack of basic amenities in police stations reduces working comfort and public accessibility. In 2020, 257 police stations had no vehicles, and 638 had no telephones.
• Modernisation Lag: Underutilisation of modernisation funds leaves forces with shortages in weapons and vehicles. 30-40% of the Police Modernisation Fund (MPF) remains unspent annually (IJR 2022).

Major Recommendations by Commissions

1. National Police Commission (1977-81)

• Create a State Security Commission in every state to prevent political misuse of police.
• Ensure minimum assured tenure for DGPs and key police officers.
• Restrict government interference and strengthen the internal authority of police leadership.

2. Ribeiro Commission (1998)

• Set up a Police Establishment Board (PEB) to oversee transfers, promotions, and discipline.
• Replace the colonial Police Act of 1861 with a modern statute.
• Establish an Independent Police Recruitment Board for non-gazetted officers.

3. Padmanabhaiah Committee (2000)

• Separate Investigation responsibilities from the law-and-order duties.
• Create Police Training Advisory Councils at the central and state levels.
• Retrain constables and require personnel to retire if they fail to meet updated standards.

4. Malimath Committee (2002-03)

• Reform criminal justice processes in evidence, investigation, and trials.
• Form a national-level law enforcement agency for specialised cases.
• Strengthen victim rights and witness protection systems.

5. Model Police Act Committee (2005-06)

• Replace the 1861 Act with a rights-based Police Act.
• Create a State Police Board for oversight and appointments.
• Enforce a mandatory two-year minimum tenure and regulate transfers by rank.

6. National Human Rights Commission (2021)

• Insert Section 114B in the Evidence Act to place the burden of explaining custodial injuries on police.
• Install CCTV cameras nationwide as directed by the Supreme Court.
• Institutionalise community policing and implement Prakash Singh directives.

Supreme Court Directions in the Prakash Singh Case (2006)

• Tenure Protection: Fix a minimum two-year tenure for DGPs, IGs, SPs, and SHOs; later prohibited the appointment of temporary or “acting” DGPs.
• Transfer Insulation: Shift all postings, transfers, promotions, and service matters to Police Establishment Boards (PEBs).
• Accountability Mechanisms: Establish State Police Complaints Authorities for public grievances and State Security Commissions to prevent political interference.
• Functional Separation: Separate investigation from law-and-order duties and constitute a National Security Commission for appointment and oversight of central police chiefs.

Conclusion

India stands at a critical juncture where its police system must evolve from an instrument of state control to a robust, accountable, and citizen-centric public service. Meaningful transformation requires a multi-pronged approach encompassing legislative changes, an end to political interference, significant investment in resources and training, and the implementation of community-oriented policing models to rebuild public trust. Only through sustained political will and a commitment to democratic values can India build a police force that not only enforces the law effectively but also earns the respect and confidence of its diverse population.