The Delhi Police will seek the views of the Union Home Ministry before responding to AAP Government’s directive on furnishing key operation details like transfer and posting policy and information about personnel who have exceeded their tenure in various posts. The force is also open to the idea of installation of CCTV cameras inside police stations as many of them already have this mechanism as sought by the Kejriwal Government to deal with complaints of non-registration of FIRs.
“We would also be happy to provide a list of dark spots, which could be potential places of crime against women. But when it comes to policy matters, which are governed by the Centre, we will seek Home Ministry’s advice on the entire issue,” top sources in Delhi Police said. The AAP Government has been demanding handing over of Delhi Police to it to improve law and order situation in the city. Currently, Delhi Police functions under direct administrative control of the Home Ministry. The AAP Government is of the considered view that it is well within its right to seek details referring to a notification issued by the President on September 24, 1998, which states the lieutenant Governor of Delhi has to exercise his powers with respect to police in consultation with the Chief Minister.
In a missive to Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi seeking internal activity of the force, Rajendra Kumar, secretary to Kejriwal, wrote this letter on his behalf, saying, “As per notification no. SO 853(E) dated September 24, 1998 issued by President of India, the lG (lieutenant Governor) has to exercise his powers with respect to Delhi Police in consultation with the Chief Minister.”
Citing this notification, Kejriwal made it clear to Bassi that the Chief Minister has to advise the lieutenant Governor on police matters from time to time. The letter is being seen as a direct confrontation with the Home Ministry and lieutenant Governor as Delhi Police reports to the lieutenant Governor. The letter was written to Bassi just two days after his Government announced curtailment in Delhi Traffic Police (DTP) powers to impound autorickshaws, taxis in cases of minor traffic violations.
In the letter, the Kejriwal Government asked the Commissioner of Delhi Police to provide transfer and posting policy of the force, list of officers in postings in excess of periods mentioned. The AAP Government has locked horns with Union Home Ministry, which oversees the Delhi Police, from the day it assumed office. Even though the Delhi Chief Minister wants Delhi Police under its thumb, it has strangely not written a single letter to the MHA on it.
Assuring full co-operation on part of the State Government to the police in its efforts to ensure safety and security to all citizens, particularly women, the State Government has also advised the Police Commissioner to install “CCTV cameras in all police stations and Delhi Government is ready to bear the cost”. The AAP Government has underlined that CCTV cameras are required in police stations as the Government regularly receives a large number of complaints about non-registration of FIRs by police.