When Indians are asked to choose some of the most corrupt public figures around them, two groups are almost always at the top, the politicians and the cops. The common citizen does not waste time in criticizing these groups for their greed, incompetence and bloated ego.
However, on the scale of exploitation, they are not of the same weight. Anybody who knows anything about the civics of India will know that the Indian police works at the mercy of politicians. Politicians rule the roost, and usually grow up with the belief that this country was built to serve their interests. The police is simply the tool with which a politician can go about projecting his/her power and implement their grand designs.
Bodyguards at their residences, their vehicles driven by uniformed cops, and using their so-called VIP status to get past airport security are just some of the many examples of how the politicians of this country live a blessed life.
I have for long ranted against the political influence on our police forces. Numerous movies have been made on the subject, numerous reports have been published, and numerous cases of political pressure have been brought to light, yet nothing is done to rectify the situation. Why? Because changing this status quo will only take away power and influence from the hand of a politician, and in this supremely democratic establishment, we definitely can't take away such unsurmountable power from the hands of our dearly beloved elected public officials. no?
Anyway, cutting aside the sarcasm, there are always some good vibes that seek to make a change. In fact, there is probably some divine providence that our country still manages to forage ahead despite all these netas dilligently trying to sell out their own country.
In a very refreshingly statement from the Supreme Court, they have indicated that they want a change. Thats good, because despite the extent to which the system has been subverted by the political class, our democracy can claim that our Supreme Court is still a shining beacon in the haze.
I have said it before and now the Justices of the Supreme Court of India say it too, that the police must be insulated from political interference. Why do politicians get away with everything? Its because they control the police. They control the police with threats and having the ability to suck their party leaders' dicks and punish the cops who try to punish them.
SC orders a cop clean-up
Insulating the police from politicians, separation of law and order machinery from the investigative apparatus, fixed tenure for police officers starting right from the station house officer — these are some of the far-reaching directions given by the Supreme Court today aimed at establishing a long-cherished independent and responsive police force in the country.
A bench of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Justice C K Thakker and Justice P K Balasubramanyam, on a petition filed by Prakash Singh, a former Director General of Police, and NGO Common Cause, gave the judgement listing the directions. When implemented, these have the potential to change the face of India’s police force.
The key recommendations are:
• Setting up of a State Security Commission in every state to ensure that state government does not exercise unwarranted influence or pressure on the police.
• DGP of state to be selected from among three senior-most officers; will have fixed tenure of atleast 2 years.
• IG, Deputy IG, SP and SHO will have minimum fixed tenure of 2 years.
• Investigating police will be separated from law and order police to ensure speedier investigation, better expertise and improved rapport with people.
• Police Establishment Board in each state to decide on transfers, postings etc and service related matters of officers’ upto DSP.
• Police Complaints Authority at district level to look into complaints against police officers till DSP.
• Center to set up National Security Commission for selection and placement of Chiefs of Central Police Organisations.
The directions have to be complied on or before December 31, 2006, the judgment said, and sought compliance reports from the Cabinet Secretary, Government of India and Chief Secretaries of states or union territories by January 3, 2007.
The State Security Commission “shall” be headed by the CM or Home Minister and have the DGP of the state as ex-officio Secretary. However, the independence of the Commission will be ensured through the other members including the leader of the opposition or the Lok Ayukta as the case may be, a retired or sitting judge and some non-political citizens.
The Police Establishment Board will be made up of the DGP and four senior officers of the department. “The state government may interfere with decision of the Board in exceptional cases only after recording its reasons for doing so.”
To maintain independence of the Police Complaints Authority, the bench ordered that the PCA at the district level “may” be headed by a retired District Judge and at the state level by a retired judge of the High Court or Supreme Court. The PCA will have on its panel retired civil servants, police officers or members of civil society.
It will take note of only charges of serous misconduct by the cops including incidents involving death, grievous hurt or rape in custody. The district authority may also inquire into allegations of extortion, land grabbing etc. Another important recommendation is for setting up a National Security Commission to be headed by the Home Minister and comprising heads of the Central Police Organisations and a couple of security experts as members with the Union Home Secretary as its secretary. The NSC will draw up a panel to be placed before the appointing authority for selection and placement of chiefs of the CPOs. The Chiefs will also enjoy a two-year minimum tenure.
The petitioners had approached the court in 1996 after the government dragged its feet on the recommendations of the National Police Commission and several others regarding reforms in the force.
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Monday, September 25, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Indian hockey still going nowhere
There was a time when Indian hockey was at its prime, with great players, great tournaments, and great showings at all international meetings, including the Olympic games. Unfortunately, the way the state of Indian hockey is right now, one seems to wonder if there is any lower than we can go.
The Hockey World Cup is on right now in Germany, and India has played 5 games already, and not won a single one. India has lost to everybody in its group, only managing to get a draw against South Africa was it? So thats the way the tournament is going. Once the powerhouse of world hockey, home to the names of Dhyanchand, Mohd. Shahid et al, and today we can't win a game. I am sure the IHF, abely led by supercop KPS Gill, is rolling in laughter at this great joke they are playing with our players and with the country.
Fuck man, in a group of 6 teams, we drew with one and lost to 4, and are, expectedly, at the rock bottom. What the hell went wrong? Is it bad policy, is it lack of skill, is it lack of facilities, is it lack of training, there has got to be something that we can put a finger on and say that "look, this is the reason you suck so bad, and if you work on this, maybe, just maybe, you'll at least win a game next time."
A former German coach says that a great hockey nation like India is at this sad juncture is because there is no direction. Hmm, I thought Indian sports programs never really had any direction. Take any sport, any damn sport, and you will find fat officials gorging on funds that are meant for players, dirty administrators who'se only job is to cut corners and never ever try to do justice to their job. Our sports associations are filled with washed out, dirty netas who still live under the false pretense that they are still important, and have turned every damn sports field into a fucking cowshed.
Oh, and as much of an optimist that I am, I am also beginning to wonder that the governments of Delhi, its worthless civic authorities are definitely going to fuck up during the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Dude, in India bureaucracy has never been capable of doing anything. And when that bureaucracy is led by an even worse entity, called the Indian polity, you can be sure that we will get nothing but incompetence and substandard functioning. If Indian politicians had any balls or even an iota of will in them to change this country for the better, we probably would be better. Fuck them, this is not about them.
Coming back to Indian hockey, I've said it before and i'll say it again, as much as KPS Gill has achieved on the internal security front as a cop, he has done nothing for the IHF except feed his ego and obstinacy. The IHF is as closed and unaccountable as the BCCI or any other sports federation.
Fine, people will say that look, they started the PHL, and yes, that is a good concept, but it is still too early to say where it is headed. With IHF at the helm, how can one not expect things to wane and the initial enthusiasm to die out?
Indian hockey hits rock bottom at WC
The Indian hockey team's nightmare at the World Cup continues. A team which has got Olympic gold medals to its name can't win even one match in the hockey World Cup. It's been another disastrous campaign for India at an international tournament.
Embarrasing, if you are looking for a word to summarise India's performance at the hockey World Cup. Don't look beyond it. With just one point from five matches, India is now nowhere near the semi-final stage. They will now be contesting for the last four places in the classification matches.
India have played well only in patches. The forwards have been off-colour barring youngster Shivendra Singh. Before their departure, the coaches said the midfield would be the key. But in Monchengladbach, the midfield was listless.
Indian teams in the past have been known for their attacking skills. But this time, the entire setup has been defensive. Experts say this is another reason why India are conceding last-minute goals, which have often been the decisive ones. India finished 10th at the last World Cup. But this time around, there is a real danger of finishing last.
---------------------------------------------
No direction
Germany’s famed hockey coach Paul Lissek is saddened by India’s decline and an evident lack of concerted efforts to revive the glory days. He feels India is sufferings the pangs of disjointed planning.
Lissek said it was difficult to believe this slide, and hoped that serious introspection about the causes — and remedial steps —was being done back home in India to ensure that they have the chance of reclaiming a place on the podium at global events.
The most glaring example is that the current side’s coach, V Bhaskaran, was given charge of the squad just four months ahead of the World Cup. “Can anyone shape a World Cup winning outfit in four months?” exclaimed Lissek.“You need a programme in place for two generations of players if you want to produce consistent performances. Look at India’s coaching plans, there’s a glaring lack on continuity from one tournament to the next.”
“You simply can’t have two or three new coaches every year and yet hope to win gold medals,” he said. “Look at all the successful countries, they all have continuity in their coaching programme. The Indian skills are still on view, but their teams haven’t been clicking for some time,” said Lissek, who feels the bench strength of the current Indian squad was not strong enough to maintain the tempo.
“It appears to me that India have a good starting lineup of 11 players, but the remaining ones on the bench are not of the same quality,” he said. “One’s got to be patient with the players, who need time to settle down.”
---------------------------------------------------
And you know what is going to happen next? Because of India's yet another distastrous showing, this four month coach will also get scrapped, and some other goat will be fattened till its time for him to go. Jai ho, jai ho kutte ke pillon.
The Hockey World Cup is on right now in Germany, and India has played 5 games already, and not won a single one. India has lost to everybody in its group, only managing to get a draw against South Africa was it? So thats the way the tournament is going. Once the powerhouse of world hockey, home to the names of Dhyanchand, Mohd. Shahid et al, and today we can't win a game. I am sure the IHF, abely led by supercop KPS Gill, is rolling in laughter at this great joke they are playing with our players and with the country.
Fuck man, in a group of 6 teams, we drew with one and lost to 4, and are, expectedly, at the rock bottom. What the hell went wrong? Is it bad policy, is it lack of skill, is it lack of facilities, is it lack of training, there has got to be something that we can put a finger on and say that "look, this is the reason you suck so bad, and if you work on this, maybe, just maybe, you'll at least win a game next time."
A former German coach says that a great hockey nation like India is at this sad juncture is because there is no direction. Hmm, I thought Indian sports programs never really had any direction. Take any sport, any damn sport, and you will find fat officials gorging on funds that are meant for players, dirty administrators who'se only job is to cut corners and never ever try to do justice to their job. Our sports associations are filled with washed out, dirty netas who still live under the false pretense that they are still important, and have turned every damn sports field into a fucking cowshed.
Oh, and as much of an optimist that I am, I am also beginning to wonder that the governments of Delhi, its worthless civic authorities are definitely going to fuck up during the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Dude, in India bureaucracy has never been capable of doing anything. And when that bureaucracy is led by an even worse entity, called the Indian polity, you can be sure that we will get nothing but incompetence and substandard functioning. If Indian politicians had any balls or even an iota of will in them to change this country for the better, we probably would be better. Fuck them, this is not about them.
Coming back to Indian hockey, I've said it before and i'll say it again, as much as KPS Gill has achieved on the internal security front as a cop, he has done nothing for the IHF except feed his ego and obstinacy. The IHF is as closed and unaccountable as the BCCI or any other sports federation.
Fine, people will say that look, they started the PHL, and yes, that is a good concept, but it is still too early to say where it is headed. With IHF at the helm, how can one not expect things to wane and the initial enthusiasm to die out?
Indian hockey hits rock bottom at WC
The Indian hockey team's nightmare at the World Cup continues. A team which has got Olympic gold medals to its name can't win even one match in the hockey World Cup. It's been another disastrous campaign for India at an international tournament.
Embarrasing, if you are looking for a word to summarise India's performance at the hockey World Cup. Don't look beyond it. With just one point from five matches, India is now nowhere near the semi-final stage. They will now be contesting for the last four places in the classification matches.
India have played well only in patches. The forwards have been off-colour barring youngster Shivendra Singh. Before their departure, the coaches said the midfield would be the key. But in Monchengladbach, the midfield was listless.
Indian teams in the past have been known for their attacking skills. But this time, the entire setup has been defensive. Experts say this is another reason why India are conceding last-minute goals, which have often been the decisive ones. India finished 10th at the last World Cup. But this time around, there is a real danger of finishing last.
---------------------------------------------
No direction
Germany’s famed hockey coach Paul Lissek is saddened by India’s decline and an evident lack of concerted efforts to revive the glory days. He feels India is sufferings the pangs of disjointed planning.
Lissek said it was difficult to believe this slide, and hoped that serious introspection about the causes — and remedial steps —was being done back home in India to ensure that they have the chance of reclaiming a place on the podium at global events.
The most glaring example is that the current side’s coach, V Bhaskaran, was given charge of the squad just four months ahead of the World Cup. “Can anyone shape a World Cup winning outfit in four months?” exclaimed Lissek.“You need a programme in place for two generations of players if you want to produce consistent performances. Look at India’s coaching plans, there’s a glaring lack on continuity from one tournament to the next.”
“You simply can’t have two or three new coaches every year and yet hope to win gold medals,” he said. “Look at all the successful countries, they all have continuity in their coaching programme. The Indian skills are still on view, but their teams haven’t been clicking for some time,” said Lissek, who feels the bench strength of the current Indian squad was not strong enough to maintain the tempo.
“It appears to me that India have a good starting lineup of 11 players, but the remaining ones on the bench are not of the same quality,” he said. “One’s got to be patient with the players, who need time to settle down.”
---------------------------------------------------
And you know what is going to happen next? Because of India's yet another distastrous showing, this four month coach will also get scrapped, and some other goat will be fattened till its time for him to go. Jai ho, jai ho kutte ke pillon.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
thinking behind time
When God was giving out alertness and quick response, he, or she, kept out one group of people out of the loop. That group of people would then go on to be called the successive governments of India.
The story of Indian politicians is simple - they will start warming up when the race is over. Why am I saying all this? Because its true. The aviation sector is a perfect example of how the politicians of India have absolutely no idea what the country is upto, for most of the time. What to speak of the absolutely dangerous and horrendous situation in which these politicians have allowed our internal defenses to rot and allow enemies to permeate our fabric.
Any public project takes forever to be implemented in this country. This current regime is no different. It sickens me to see how weak they are. The Bangalore International Airport has been a work in progress for the last two decades, and when it is finally being built, they realize that by the time it is finished, it will be too small to cater to the number of passengers that will use it.
Its not just the center, but the state governments too that are equally to blame. Devegowda and his son are as ineffective and worthless as they can get. Also, what is this new mantra called 'public private partnership' that the new government is harping about? Hmm, is it part of their reforms with a human face theme?
I am really sick right now, and my thoughts are coming out as pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, but my feeling of indignation is the same throughout. Our netas have no vision, and they have no idea what this country they are ruling is upto. They would rather sit tight in their air conditioned offices with bodyguards standing outside while the rest of the country has to do without electricity and without an iota of law and order.
The story of Indian politicians is simple - they will start warming up when the race is over. Why am I saying all this? Because its true. The aviation sector is a perfect example of how the politicians of India have absolutely no idea what the country is upto, for most of the time. What to speak of the absolutely dangerous and horrendous situation in which these politicians have allowed our internal defenses to rot and allow enemies to permeate our fabric.
Any public project takes forever to be implemented in this country. This current regime is no different. It sickens me to see how weak they are. The Bangalore International Airport has been a work in progress for the last two decades, and when it is finally being built, they realize that by the time it is finished, it will be too small to cater to the number of passengers that will use it.
Its not just the center, but the state governments too that are equally to blame. Devegowda and his son are as ineffective and worthless as they can get. Also, what is this new mantra called 'public private partnership' that the new government is harping about? Hmm, is it part of their reforms with a human face theme?
I am really sick right now, and my thoughts are coming out as pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, but my feeling of indignation is the same throughout. Our netas have no vision, and they have no idea what this country they are ruling is upto. They would rather sit tight in their air conditioned offices with bodyguards standing outside while the rest of the country has to do without electricity and without an iota of law and order.
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