BJP seeks discussion on Delhi Police Act (Amendment) Bill

Demanding a greater role for Delhi government in maintenance of law and order in the city, BJP today sought a thorough discussion on the proposed Delhi Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2010 being finalised by the Union Home Ministry.

Senior BJP leader VK Malhotra said the Bill, which seeks amendments to the Delhi Police Act 1978, should be discussed in Delhi assembly before it is introduced in Parliament so that inputs of elected representatives of the city could be incorporated in it.

"Although the bill is to be passed by the Parliament, its provisions could be discussed in Assembly as they will impact peoples' lives in Delhi," he said.

Malhotra said traffic and some non core functions of police should be handed over to city government.
    
"A provision in the bill should be incorporated making Delhi Police also accountable to Delhi Government," he said.
   
Last week, various provisions of the bill was discussed at a conference which was attended by Delhi chief minister
Sheila Dikshit, Union home secretary GK Pillai, Delhi Police commissioner YS Dadwal, ministers Mangat Ram Singhal, Arvinder Singh Lovely and Kiran Walia, other than senior civil and police officers.
    
In the conference, Dikshit had said the city must have a "much more responsive and people-friendly" police system that
understands the sensitivities of the citizens.
   
There was a broad consensus in the conference on transfer of traffic management and other non-core functions to the city
government, besides setting up of police appellate authority in each district in the city to hear complaints against the
force.
    
Delhi government has sent its final draft for amendment in Delhi Police Act to the Home Ministry, proposing fixed tenure for senior policemen besides defining crimes like insurgency, militant activities, organised crime, making of crank or hoax calls in view of new challenges of policing.