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Patil calls for balance between laws and rights

PHOTO: PTI

Welcome: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil greets Rajasthan Governor S. K. Singh during the 38th All-India Police Science Congress in Jaipur on Tuesday.

JAIPUR: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Tuesday called for striking a balance between the need for stringent laws to combat terrorism and protection of human rights of innocent citizens. “Targeting the innocent in the name of security measures sends across a wrong signal and spoils peace and social harmony,” he said.

Inaugurating the 38th All-India Police Science Congress here, Mr. Patil said though the police statutes had been amended as and when needed and were still open for suitable changes, the Government would take due care to protect the rights of weaker sections while controlling crimes.

Mr. Patil affirmed that the police personnel were expected to be humble in their behaviour with the public during the performance of their duty despite the difficult situations and heavy pressure of work. The exigencies of work in desert, hills, forests and coastal areas called for rigorous training of policemen, he added.

The Home Minister said the Centre was taking action to establish a National Police Training Institute for training of police trainers as suggested by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a Chief Ministers’ conference recently. “Research and development has to be a continuing process. It should include modernisation, reforms, training and innovations,” he added.

Mr. Patil said both the Central and State Governments should consider the spending on policing as an important investment and provide modern equipment, weapons, transport and telecommunication facilities to the security forces: “in addition to the modernisation of old forensic science laboratories, police stations should be refurbished to cater to the present needs.”

Mr. Patil also underlined the need for improving the recruitment of women to the police forces and enhancing cooperation with the private security organisations to reduce the work pressure. In addition to the financial and development works, investment should be made in providing a healthy and nutritious diet to policemen, he added.

The three-day police science congress, being organised in Jaipur after a gap of 40 years, is deliberating on the application of modern technology to the crime investigation and prevention. Over a hundred senior police officers, forensic science and medico-legal experts and sociologists are attending the event.

Rajasthan Governor S. K. Singh, presiding over the inaugural function, said criminals using information technology in their nefarious activities was a big challenge for the police and called for better liaison between police and common people for controlling crimes. A high degree of professionalism in police operations would also be helpful in this regard, he added.

Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said the State Government had fully utilised Rs.470 crore granted by the Centre for modernisation of police and enacted the new Rajasthan Police Act. Director-General of Police A. S. Gill threw light on some “radical reforms” introduced by the State police. Bureau of Police Research and Development Director-General K. Koshy said Indian police officers could enhance their capacity by getting training in developed countries.

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Patil calls for balance between laws and rights

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