The Supreme Court’s directive restraining State governments from appointing Directors-General of Police without first consulting the Union Public Service Commission will make the entire selection process not only transparent but also corruption free. The UPSC has an impeccable record in the recruitment and selection processes for various key posts; such a move will only promote excellence, transparency and credibility (“Consult UPSC for selecting police chiefs, SC tells States”, July 4).
Diksha Pant,
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
It is a good move but there are still larger issues that come into play in the structural domain of the police. After this vital first step, what is needed is ‘root and branch’ reform that extends to the lowest ranks in the police, a section that is most vulnerable to external influences. There must be a significant restructuring of the policies that govern the fundamental mechanisms in the police force.
Prince Krishnan,
Muttara, Kollam, Kerala
There have been a number of cases where officers have discerned deliberate political interference in top bureaucratic appointments. Every political party in power wants to have its ‘yes men’ in crucial posts so that the administration can be directed to operate without a hitch. This has given rise to sycophancy whereby officers try to work to impress their political masters rather than serve the public faithfully. Furthermore, in institutions such as the police force, such practices are informally institutionalised. Every State government wants a complete hold over law and order so that it can not only leverage its position but also use it to misuse power. The Prakash Singh guidelines given by the Supreme Court need to be implemented in letter and spirit.
Gagan Pratap Singh,
Noida, Uttar Pradesh