NEW DELHI:
The Government will enact a new law for police administration in Union Territories in the ongoing session of Parliament or in the next one, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
"We can introduce the new legislation in this session. If this is not possible in the current session for some reason, then it will definitely be done in the next," he said during question hour.
Mr. Patil hoped State Governments would enact similar laws as the Centre was not empowered to do so.
He said the model Police Act, drafted by the Soli Sorabjee Committee, had been sent to State Governments for their consideration.
People-friendly
Pointing out that the existing Police Act, 1862 required several changes, Mr. Patil said the model Act dealt with police reforms, to make them effective in tackling new crimes and to ensure a people-friendly force.
The panel considered the Supreme Court directives on police reforms, Law Commission reports, parliamentary debates, views of the States and what the Government proposed, to prepare the model Act.
The prevailing police-population ratio was 1:800, which was far higher than the global average of 1:125, he said.
Security councils
The Supreme Court had directed the formation of State security councils in all districts to take up complaints against the police and whose advice would be binding on State Governments.
The Minister said the Government was studying whether it would be practical or not.
Printer friendly
page Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
