Additional Commissioner of Mumbai Police Pratap Dighavkar during a press conference to sensitise its officers.
The Mumbai Police has issued a circular asking their officials not to enter hotel rooms and flats to take action against consenting couples. There was massive outrage from the public after the police had knocked on doors and rounded up couples for indecent behaviour in Malvani area earlier this month.
Mumbai's Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria has also asked cops to avoid interfering with couples at malls, parks, and beaches, and avoid making suggestions to citizens on how to behave and what to wear, in the circular issued on August 20.
Local police officials have been asked to inform their senior officers before taking any step under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act.
One of the complaints against the police is that they are unable to understand the cosmopolitan culture of the city, a seminar was organised for nearly 350 officers from all police stations to create awareness.
"The cardinal and basic principle behind organising this workshop is that they must have social accountability. They must respect individual liberty, human dignity and personal liberty," said Additional Commissioner of Police, South Region, Pratap Dighavkar.
Sociologist Nandini Sardesai, who addressed the policemen during the day long seminar told NDTV, "We have to understand that the world around us are changing and the police need to understand that and they need to be conscientised about the changing ethos of society... What people do behind closed doors is none of your business is what they need to understand."
Musician and AAP Member Vishal Dadlani told NDTV, "The police have to understand that till the time someone does not break the law and trouble anyone else till that time there is no need to interfere in their personal life and it not right... This is a good first step and I want to congratulate Rakesh Maria for this."
Police officials say that there more such awareness seminars will be held.