1857 revolt

Welcome !!! : 

Welcome !!! Presenter: Dr G S Bajpai Commonwealth Fellow Department of Criminology University of Leicester(UK) gsbajpai@rediffmail.com http://www.forensic.to/webhome/drgsbajpai

The presentation is available at : 

The presentation is available at http://www.forensic.to/webhome/drgsbajpai/presentation.ppt

India: Policing a Post Colonial Inheritance? : 

India: Policing a Post Colonial Inheritance? Seminar Question: To what extent have the Indian police overcome the colonial inheritance?

On Colonialism : 

On Colonialism As per Oxford dictionary the word colonialism has fairly recently acquired the meaning of "alleged policy of exploitation of backward or weak peoples by a large power." (http://www.postcolonialweb.org/poldiscourse/colony2.html)

On Colonialism : 

On Colonialism Colonialism is a system in which a state claims sovereignty over territory and people outside its own boundaries, often to facilitate economic domination over their resources, labor, and often markets. The term also refers to a set of beliefs used to legitimate or promote this system, especially the belief that the mores of the colonizer are superior to those of the colonized.

Basic Police Data I : 

Basic Police Data I The Indian Police cater to One Billion plus Population India is a union of 30 states and 7 union territories (Area 3,287,263 sq km) Police are a State subject Each state/ union territory has its own separate police force There are central police organisations for specialised work.

Basic Police Data II : 

Basic Police Data II The total combined strength of the state/union territory police forces: 14,49,761 The strength of CPOs - 5,28,370. Police- Population Ratio- 10: 10,000 Police Area Ratio: 34 Policemen per Sq KM. 85% are constables

The Police System - A Colonial Legacy ? : 

The Police System - A Colonial Legacy ? The police system in India was established by the Police Act of 1861 This legislation came in the wake of the Indian Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 Aim was to quell rebellion & Perpetuate the rule

The Police Act produced A Police Force: : 

The Police Act produced A Police Force: totally subservient to the executive accountable to anyone except their own hierarchy and the executive;whose managerial philosophy was based on distrust of the lower ranks; highly militaristic and authoritarian in design’

Making of Colonial Police- Features : 

Making of Colonial Police- Features Police made subservient to executive and not community Accountability crisis Duel control Structurally embedded Elitist bias (contd…)

Making of Colonial Police- Features : 

Making of Colonial Police- Features 5. Managerial and record keeping practices 6. Judicial distrust 7. Recruitment 8.Training (outdoor and physical vs. indoor and academic)

Making of Colonial Police- Features : 

Making of Colonial Police- Features 9. Partisan and political Image of Police 10. Authoritarian/Militaristic /Regimental 11. Brutal and arrogant

Making of Colonial Police- Features : 

Making of Colonial Police- Features 11. Lacked transparency 12. Insensitive to people 13. Police subculture brand

The Police System - A Colonial Legacy ? : 

The Police System - A Colonial Legacy ? The British Govt appointed Indian Police Commission( 1902-03) said- ‘The police force is far from efficient, it is defective in training and organization, it is inadequately supervised, it is generally regarded as corrupt and oppressive, and it has utterly failed to secure the confidence and cordial cooperation of the people.’

The Debate : 

The Debate To what extent have the Indian police overcome the colonial inheritance?

After Independence_ Shadow of Colonialism : 

After Independence_ Shadow of Colonialism The advent of Independence changed the political system, but the police system remained more or less unaltered: The Police Act of 1861 or state legislation modeled on the Act continued to govern it. (contd…..)

Persistence--- : 

Persistence--- The powers to exercise control and superintendence over the police remained the same It remained largely unaccountable to the public.

Persistence…… : 

Persistence…… Its managerial philosophy, value system and ethos remained what they were. It was a ruler or establishment supportive police force and continued to remain so.

‘Overcoming’ may be traced in following initiatives: : 

‘Overcoming’ may be traced in following initiatives: 1. Police Reforms: Appointment of Police Reform commission by the states Gore committee on Police training, 1971 National Police Commission 1979-81 (Contd……)

Overcoming…. : 

Overcoming…. The Ribeiro Committee on Police Reforms, 1998 The Padmanabhaiah Committee on Police Reforms, 2000 The National Human Rights Commission, 1993 The NGOs movement - The CHRI's Initiatives

Indian Police Overcoming colonialism by : 

Indian Police Overcoming colonialism by 2. Structural Changes  Specialized Units (women, juvenile, weaker sections, rural, etc) IOs number enhanced

Indian Police Overcoming colonialism by : 

Indian Police Overcoming colonialism by 3.Police training Varied inputs Forensic Weaponry Computer Human Rights Contd….

Indian Police Overcoming colonialism by : 

Indian Police Overcoming colonialism by Community policing Human Rights sensitization   Police complaint system   Media Audit   Judicial Activism

Individual Police Initiatives : 

Individual Police Initiatives Community policing Modernisation Police image Leadership

Concluding: : 

Concluding: Overcoming is possible by reforms Reforms at four levels Government- ( highly inadequate) Within organization( somewhat OK) Public ( beginning ) Civil society ( Effective)

Concluding: : 

Concluding: Reforms to overcome colonialism: Repealing Police Act 1861 Introduction of NPCs recommendations: New Police Act Security commission

Additional Readings : 

Additional Readings Police and Crime by Dr. Anand Swarup Gupta Defenders of Establishment- Ruler Supportive Police Forces of South Asia by K.S. Dhillon ( Published by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla Police, Power and Colonial Rule: Madras 1859 to 1947 by David Arnold 4. Police Power and Colonial Rule Madras 1859-1947 David Arnold