Pramesh S Jain
In a disturbing trend of police officials allegedly conducting public grievance and peace meetings in a manner that reflects discrimination,with videos of such instances going viral on social media, the Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority (KSPCA) has urged the Director General and Inspector General of Police to ensure that members of the public are provided seating arrangements on par with police officers.
In a letter to the State police chief,KSPCA member Mohan Kumar Danappa said making members of the public sit on the floor while police officers and other officials occupy chairs was unacceptable and contrary to the principles of a people-friendly police system.
Police conduct various meetings with citizens at the police station,district and range levels,including peace committee meetings,SC/ST grievance meetings,monthly public interaction meetings,peace meetings and awareness programmes.
Such meetings are intended to strengthen police-public relations and facilitate better coordination in maintaining law and order.
However,Danappa said instances had come to notice where citizens were made to sit on the floor while police officers and other officials sat on chairs.
Similar scenes have also surfaced on social media, including posts shared through official police department accounts.
He said such practices could undermine the self-respect, dignity and honour of citizens and create a perception of inequality between the public and police.Such conduct is contrary to the concept of community-oriented policing, he added.
“Police are the protectors and servants of the people in a democracy, and it is essential that they interact with citizens with dignity and respect,”Mr.Danappa said.
He stressed that peace meetings,grievance meetings and public interaction programmes should be platforms for hearing citizens’concerns and building trust and cooperation,rather than occasions to display differences based on status or position.
Danappa has urged the DGP and IGP to issue clear directions to all police stations,offices and units across Karnataka to provide suitable and equal seating arrangements for members of the public at all police-public interaction meetings and awareness programmes.
The directions should cover meetings conducted by police personnel at all levels,including beat staff and senior officers,and equal seating for citizens should be made mandatory,he said.
It may be recalled that in October last year,Mr.Saleem had issued an 18-point directive to police personnel across Karnataka,stressing the need to treat every member of the public with dignity,irrespective of their social status,background or identity.
The directive specifically instructed police personnel to maintain courteous and professional behaviour while dealing with visitors to police stations and avoid harsh or disrespectful language.
It also called for special care and sensitivity towards women, children and senior citizens,with officers directed to ensure that such visitors were treated with dignity and consideration.
The instructions assume significance amid growing concern over the manner in which members of the public are treated during police grievance and peace meetings.
Instances of civilians being made to stand while police officials occupy chairs have recently drawn criticism and triggered discussions about whether such practices are consistent with the department’s own instructions on public-friendly policing.
The directive had emphasised that police personnel must treat everyone fairly and without discrimination, regardless of their social position or identity.
It also stressed that interactions with the public should reflect professionalism,respect and sensitivity.
