The Tribune, November 30, 1999
DGP advocates mantra of transparency
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service
GURGAON, Nov 29 — The Director-General of Police of Haryana, Mr S.P.S.Rathore, has sent a strong message of taking strict disciplinary action against erring personnel in the police force of the state.
According to sources, the police chief has, however, initiated a number of measures to lift the morale of the force. There are plans to brace up the force with modern equipment with possible financial assistance from the Centre.
His order to suspend a head constable during his visit to Dharuhera in Rewari district, last Saturday was the latest in a number of actions initiated against erring officials since he took charge as the DGP about one and a half months back. The head constable had allegedly implicated a businessman in a criminal case and had also got him beaten up in the police lock-up. The DGP took an on-the-spot decision to suspend the official and ordered departmental inquiry against him following a complaint.
Mr Rathore, who had visited Rewari district for the first time after he took up his present assignment, had invited the public to air their grievances, if any, on the occasion. Top police personnel of the district were present on the occasion.
Talking to newspersons after listening to the grievances from the affected public, Mr Rathore responded to a specific inquiry saying that he would not brook any kind of indiscipline in the force. The force needed to have a character and image which inspired confidence in the public.
He praised the "London Bobby", another name for the police in London, for its efficiency and people-friendly image. "My wish is to raise the level of the Haryana Police to that of the police in London", he said. He also said the present level of force in Haryana was better in comparison to its counterparts in other states.
He further said the Chief Minister of Haryana had issued clear instructions for improving the law and order situation in the state at the earliest.
In response to another question, the police chief said it was high time that the Act and the rules governing the police were amended. The pace of amendments had not kept tryst with the march of time,the evolution of society and its concomitant dynamics. It was in this context that special responsibility lay on the senior police officers in their functioning.
According to him, the mantra of transparency in the ovearall functioning of the force was panacea to all kinds of corruption.
In response to another question, he said apart from the local criminals some gangsters and anti-social elements from the neighbouring states had also become active in Haryana. He named Uttar Pradesh in this connection and said he would soon meet his counterpart from that state on the issue.
During his visit to Rewari district he ordered for construction of a police station in Dharuhera during the current financial year. Land has already been acquired for the purpose. The present police station is functioning from rented premises.
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