Need for reforms in Police Department

Marriage, in India, is considered a very important phase in every individual’s life. Elaborate preparations are made before the auspicious day. Normally, even people working in a private company are not refused leave for this reason. It is therefore surprising that a Police Constable, who is the lowest designated official of the Police Department, was refused leave by his Controlling Officer for getting married. The Police Constable Chandru Gawas had applied for 56 days leave for his marriage. He was reportedly abused by his superior and refused leave which eventually drove him to commit suicide.

The stand taken by the Director General of Police Dr. Aditya Arya that Chandru was told to wait till alternate arrangements are made also does not hold much water. Chandru was working in the Crime Branch office. His absence in this office would not have created any life and death situation in the State. It is also doubtful that mere refusal of leave could have driven him to commit suicide.

The authorities need to investigate deeply into the conduct of the three Officers reportedly accused by the deceased Constable. Even though Chandru’s dying statement was kept under seal, newspapers had already begun reporting of the three Officers who were named in the declaration.

Another surprising piece of news was a police complaint lodged by the Special Judicial Magistrate Ms. Maria Mascarenhas against the Police Inspector Pravinkumar Vast for threatening her to change the dying declaration of the Constable. Ms. Mascarenhas had recorded the dying declaration and was reportedly requested by the Constable before breathing his last, not to divulge the details of his statement to the police or to anybody else.

The bravado or confidence of the Police Inspector in threatening the Magistrate spells the arrogance of the Police Department officials hold on the society. Even hardened criminals would hesitate to threaten the Judiciary, but a mere Police Inspector threatening a Magistrate is cause to worry for the people.

The Police are known to terrorise the public and harass poor people, but that they can threaten the Judiciary and can torture, humiliate and harass their own sub-ordinate staff shows how deeply the rot has set in within the Police Department. Drastic reforms are the need of the hour if they need people to repose faith in them.