Police reforms in India: A Human Rights Concern

Abstract The police, an integral component of the justice system, are primarily tasked with maintaining law and order, particularly through the enforcement of criminal codes. According to the Royal Commission on Police Powers and Procedures in 1929, a policeman is an individual employed by the state to perform duties that, if desired, could have been undertaken voluntarily. Today, the term “police” refers to the civil executive force of a state entrusted with maintaining public order and enforcing regulations for crime prevention and apprehension. In contemporary times, the role of the police extends beyond crime prevention and detection to encompass various welfare activities such as assisting in traffic management, crowd control at public gatherings, aiding fire brigades and flood rescue operations, and resolving minor disputes among the public. However, this paper does not solely focus on the definition of the police. Instead, it provides an overview of police reforms in India, highlighting the challenges faced by the Indian police system and proposing solutions to address these challenges. Additionally, it explores the legal standpoint on police reforms. Keyword– Indian Police, Public Order, Royal Commission, Criminal Codes, Traffic Management