KOCHI: Coming down heavily on the “archaic mindset” of police personnel which exemplified only arrogance and brutality targeted at people, former State Police Chief Jacob Punnoose on Thursday said it was the cops themselves who were spoiling politicians by deviating from the rule of the law to win their hearts.
“It’s the police officers who give advice and suggestions to politicians in several incidents. We have been seeking freedom and autonomy for the police to ensure they work independently without any political interference. However, giving autonomy to police will be suicidal. In a democracy, the police should work under the control of the elected government represented by political leaders. What we require is a professionally-independent police force which acts as per the laws,” Punnoose said.
He was speaking at a discussion on ‘Reformation of Police Force: In the current scenario’ organised by the Chavara Cultural Centre in association with RTI Kerala Federation, St Teresa’s College and Anti-Corruption People’s Movement.
“The main debate everywhere is about who should control the police. Instead, we should analyse whether the police force is functioning professionally. Reformation of the police is not about cancelling political interference,” he said.
On the Raj-era orderly system prevailing in the force, Punnoose said the system was still prevalent in the force because subordinate police officers considered it as an option to please their superiors.
“Police personnel are willing to be orderlies to be in the good books of superiors. There is always an unholy nexus between superior police officers and their subordinates which is not good for the police force,” Punnoose said.
Pointing out lacunas in the Supreme Court’s latest judgment on the DGP appointment in the Prakash Singh case on police reforms, Punnoose said, “We expect the apex court to review the judgment as it provides certain loopholes enabling an IPS officer whose retirement is due to be in service for another two years.” “There is a chance many may misuse the directive which stipulates officers like DGPs and SPs should have a minimum fixed tenure of two years,” he said.
RTI Kerala Federation president D B Binu, Chavara Cultural Centre director Fr Roby Kannanchira and advocate M R Rajendran Nair of Anti-Corruption People’s Movement also spoke.