Police should be people-friendly and it should inspire confidence among all sections of people as the protector of their lives, property and honour. Unfortunately, we continue to be saddled with a ‘politically useful’ police which was created by the British essentially to uphold their imperial interests.
The author, a senior police officer, took upon himself the task of reforming the police and, in 1996, filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court for the purpose. It took him 10 years to get a favourable judgment from the highest court of the land; surprisingly and disappointingly, it has already taken another 15 years to get the judicial directions implemented—and the end is not in sight!
This book documents the efforts made to bring about police reforms in the country. Giving a historical background to the origin of Indian Police, the book traces its evolution during British rule and subsequently since Independence. Capturing the struggles of diverse sections of people and groups, it focuses essentially on the author’s efforts to bring about transformational changes in the Indian police.
A manifesto of a lonely and tireless crusade, the book throws light on the constraints under which the Indian police functions, its shortcomings and its inability to satisfy the democratic aspirations of the people, and what all needs to be done to metamorphose the present ruler’s police into people’s police.
Review
‘Shri Prakash Singh, an outstanding police officer, has been a flagbearer of reforms in police. This book would go a long way in strengthening his crusade.’
—R.C. Lahoti, former Chief Justice of India
‘Prakash Singh has done well to document his struggle for police reforms for 25 years. Well worth a read for all concerned citizens.’
—Madan B. Lokur, Retired Judge, Supreme Court of India
‘Police reforms have been pioneered by the indomitable Prakash Singh. This excellent book not only needs to be read, but police reforms—long delayed—now need to be speedily implemented.’
—Fali S. Nariman, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court and Jurist
‘Prakash Singh has made it his life’s mission to depoliticize the police. He will be remembered by future generations as the police officer who shed his lifeblood for a noble cause.’
—Julio Ribeiro, former Director General of Police, Punjab and India’s Ambassador to Romania
‘This is a seminal book on police and police reforms in India. A virtual tour de force spanning two centuries. A must-read.’
—G.K. Pillai, former Home Secretary, Government of India
‘Prakash Singh’s name is synonymous with police reforms. His lone and tireless crusade of around three decades to end the British colonial system of policing is well known. Many of us have followed his almost-Sisyphean battle against a practice that tends to substitute the rule of law with ‘the law of rulers’. It is a journey of an upright police officer.’
—Shekhar Gupta, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Printline Media Pvt. Ltd
About the Author
PRAKASH SINGH has the unique distinction of having commanded three major police formations of the country. He was chief of India’s largest police force—Uttar Pradesh Police—and also the world’s largest border guarding force—the Border Security Force. He was specially chosen to lead the Assam Police at a critical juncture when the United Liberation Front of Assam was on a rampage. After an illustrious career, highlighted by significant contribution to national security, for which he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, Singh devoted his post-retirement period to taking up public causes. A petition filed by him in the Supreme Court for structural changes in the police led to a landmark judgment for police reforms in 2006.
Singh is associate fellow of the Joint Special Operations University (US); member, Advisory Board of Vivekananda International Foundation and chairman, Indian Police Foundation.
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