Police Accountability Mechanism Research Paper

INTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM

The internal mechanism for holding particular police officers accountable for their actions are determined in the police act of 1861, the state governments police acts and in rules and regulations which are laid down in state police manuals. The police act 1861, authorities which are senior police officers of the rank of superintendent of police, they are appointed to impose one or more of the other punishments, including (a) fine not exceeding one month’s pay (b) confinement to quarter not exceeding 15 days, (c) deprivation of good conduct payment, and (d) removal from any rank of distinction or special emolument.

Giving major punishments to suspected police personnel is tough task and takes time because

While writ petitions and public interest litigations could be filed in the higher courts, criminal cases can be launched in the lower courts. A number of important judgments had been passed by the higher courts, determining safeguards or guidelines which are necessary to regulate police behaviour and their functioning, process of arrest, interrogation and other stages of investigation, asking and also payment of compensation in cases of custodial violence, managing of communal and caste conflicts in many cases where defective or inadequate police investigation was

The police departments were opposed to share information with outsiders, mainly the NGO’s. so, that the work of the NGO’s particularly with the regard to police reforms. The government felt that although the NGO’s were ever ready and desired to condemn the police at the drop of a hat, they had no alternative plans to suggest. While the infringements by the force of the country were violently denounced by them, more serious violations committed by terrorist were not even criticized. This awareness is shared by certain parts or sections of the public.

• Media one of the most attentive observer over the police functioning in this country is the media. The media in India enjoys a wide degree of freedom. It has been extensive reach and power. Any of infringements of human rights happening anywhere in the country can be known to the rest of the country in no time, provided the media takes it up.

The media has been shown huge interest in reporting on human rights infringement committed by the police officials and its agencies. The media coverage is sometimes is insufficient and particular upon one topic. Most of the media organisations in this country, or in other sections of the stat, either state or corporate