In what has left the Assam government red faced, former Assam director-general of police Prakash Singh has described the Assam Police Act, 2007, as a fraud on the people of the state.
Addressing a seminar on police accountability and civil society here on Sunday Mr Singh said that the act did not comply with the Supreme Court’s directives on police reforms. The retired IPS officer also asserted that the government had violated the letter and spirit of the apex court guidelines by passing the act without conforming to these guidelines.
In fact Mr Singh, who was addressing the seminar organised by the Assam Police Accountability Commission, pointed out that even the commission headed by Justice D.N. Choudhury has been constituted without adhering to the order of the apex court.
The SC, in its verdict, had fixed certain standard criteria in case of DGP tenure, formation of state security commission, besides a host of other aspects aimed at police reforms. The former DGP also advocated the need for challenging the existence of the Act in the court. He was of view that some NGO should challenge the act in the court of law. Taking the political leaders head-on, the retired IPS officer alleged that due to their “uncalled for” intervention in the day-to-day functioning of the police department.