System ‘suffocating’ for honest officers, say police welfare bodies

Alleging that the suicide by IPS officer Y Puran Kumar reflects the ‘suffocating’ system in which honest officers struggle to survive, various police welfare organisations from across North India today said they would approach the Supreme Court for the implementation of the long-pending police reforms recommended by it in 2006.

Representatives of the Haryana Police Organisation, Delhi Police Non-Gazetted Retired Officers Association, Punjab Police Organisation, Chandigarh (UT) Police Organisation, Himachal Pradesh Police Organisation, and All India Police Welfare Council paid tribute to the late IPS officer in Chandigarh, describing him as a ‘brave and upright officer who stood for justice and integrity throughout his service’.

In a condolence message addressed to IAS officer Amneet P Kumar, wife of the deceased officer, they expressed sorrow over his tragic demise, saying it had shaken the police fraternity.

Referring to the contents of the officer’s purported suicide note, as reported in the media, they said it pointed towards systemic issues within the policing structure and the failure to implement the reforms.

They said nearly three decades ago, senior police officer Prakash Singh and others had filed a petition that led to the landmark judgment of 2006, directing the Centre and state governments to bring in structural reforms in policing. “However, the indifference by the governments in implementing those directives had contributed to the circumstances leading to such unfortunate events,” said Dilawar Singh, president of the Haryana Police Organisation.

In a joint statement, the organisations said they would approach the Supreme Court to seek intervention. “We should refrain from political theatrics in police matters. The organisations will take the issue of police reforms to the Supreme Court,” they said.