Maharashtra top cop takes on state government, alleges political interference

Mumbai: After being stripped of powers to transfer police officers of lower ranks by the Maharashtra government, the state's Director General of Police has objected to what he calls political interference, and is said to be considering quitting, according to sources. 

Earlier this year, the state government passed a resolution that effectively gave Home Minister RR Patil the final say in transfers when it provided for the government to 'modify' decisions taken by the police. Sources have told NDTV that DGP Sanjeev Dayal is unhappy about the move and that he has communicated his displeasure to Mr Patil who has promised a relook at the decision.

The Maharasthra government's decision is in contravention of the Supreme Court's order on police reforms in the landmark 2006 Prakash Singh case, when it had said the power to transfer lower rank officers should lie with the Police Establishment Board, headed by the DGP and comprising four senior officers.

The Maharashtra government did set up such a board in 2008, but has added a rider that the government can "modify the decision of the board."

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Mr Patil said, "The confusion shall be sorted within three days. The problem has stemmed out of the recent rules that have been framed in this regard. The necessary amendments shall be introduced to the Transfer Act."

Meanwhile, Julio Ribeiro, a former Mumbai Police Commissioner has approached Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan along with other former cops and bureaucrats to find a solution to the problem. Mr Ribiero told NDTV, "The Chief Minister says he understands. He knows it is serious. The first thing the political establishment should do is remove the police from the purview of the Transfer Act."

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Mr Singh, a former DGP and Assam and Uttar Pradesh had in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) requested the Supreme Court to investigate how states were implementing long-pending police reforms.