ARC recommendations on Law and Order

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission has made several recommendations on law and order, including the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, requiring a mandatory and immediate investigation of every encounter killing, and also the creation of a seperate investigative authority insulated from political control. It, however, also recommends that confessions made to a police officer be admissible if it is video-taped, which has the possibility of jeopardising civil liberties.
An earlier report by the Commission dealt with ethics in governance.

Narco-analysis - legal and scientific issues

Sriram Lakshman says that narco-analysis, being increasingly relied upon by courts to ascertain the 'truth' is scientifically questionable and does not respect the rights of the accused. B.M. Mohan, in reply, asserts that the science involved in the method is solid.

Armed Forces Act

The abuse of the Act led to the rape and death of Manorama last year. Its been a year, and despite all the talk about right to information, the government has not made the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission report on the Act public. However, Indian Express releases a report which outlines the main recommendations of the Report - shockingly, it recommends that the law be extended to the whole of India!

A goonda list?

The UP decision to 'list' all 'anti-social' elements is shocking. Clearly there is a problem of rising crime graph, and the solution must be located in better and transparent policing. But this measure seeks to further empower the police, turn the presumption of innocence on its head and will mostly be used agianst the weaker sections of society.

Police reforms - urgent necessity

The Patna SP being troubled for doing his duty is another regular story which calls for the need for immediate organisational reforms to shield the police force from political interference, which maintaining accountability to elected representatives.