FGG Urges Telangana CM to Implement Police Reform Directives

Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based NGO Forum for Good Governance(FGG) calls for establishing the State Security Commission (SSC) and Police Complaints Authorities (PCAs) to maintain police accountability. Further, FGG attributed instances like unauthorized phone tapping, illegal land acquisition, and police intimidation and misconduct to the absence of these watchdogs.

The forum pointed out that Telangana has not effectively established the required oversight bodies – the State Security Commission (SSC) and Police Complaints Authorities (PCAs) – despite the 18-year-old Supreme Court directive.

FGG submitted a letter to the Chief Minister of Telangana, highlighting the state’s failure to implement police reforms mandated by the Supreme Court’s 2006 judgment in the Prakash Singh case.

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According to the FGG, Telangana has established bodies and appointed members through executive orders, but the state hasn’t formalized rules of procedure for their operations. The current State Security Commission, formed in 2021, remains non-functional and lacks the Leader of Opposition as a member, which contradicts the Supreme Court’s directive. The Police Complaints Authorities (PCAs)including the State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA) and District Police Complaints Authorities (DPCAs) exist only on paper.Currently, Police Complaints Authorities exist only in Hyderabad and Warangal regions, covering 18 out of 33 districts.

The forum noted that Telangana has appointed serving government and police officials to these oversight bodies, contrary to the Supreme Court’s mandate for independent authorities.

Demands independent police oversight bodies

The organization presented five recommendations to the state government. First, enact a new Telangana Police Act or amend existing laws in line with the model bill. Second, establish formal rules of procedure for SSC, SPCA, and DPCAs. Third, reconstitute the SSC to include the Leader of Opposition. Fourth, reconstitute the SPCA and DPCAs without serving officials. Fifth, operationalize these bodies in all 33 districts with adequate infrastructure and staff.

The forum emphasized that seventeen other states, including Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Assam, have enacted new Police Acts or amended existing laws to comply with the Supreme Court’s directives.