Police Reforms: India
Police Reforms: Too Important to Neglect, Too Urgent to Delay

The Ribeiro Committee on Police Reforms

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, vide Office Memorandum No. 11018/1/98-PMA dated May 25, 1998, set up a Committee in pursuance of the Supreme Court's directions issued in the context of Writ Petition (Civil) No. 310 of 1996.

The Committee was headed by Mr. J.F. Ribeiro, IPS (Retd.), also former Ambassador of India to Bulgaria, with Ms. Nirmala Buch, IAS (Retd.), former Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Shri. Arun Bhagat, IPS (Retd.) former Director, Intelligence Bureau, and Ms. Prabha Shankarnarayanan, Advocate as members. The terms of reference of the Committee were as follows:

1. To review action taken to implement the recommendations of the National Police Commission, National Human Rights Commission and the Vohra Committee
2. To suggest ways and means to implement the pending recommendations of the above Commissions/Committee
3. Consider and make recommendations regarding any other matter which the Government may refer to the Committee or which the Committee considers necessary in this behalf

The Committee was asked to submit its report within a period of six months. On a reference made by the petitioners in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 310 of 1996, the Supreme Court asked the Committee to review action taken to implement the recommendations of the NPC, particularly focusing on the need, relevance and practicability of:

1. Setting up a Security Commission or Police Authority in each State and at the Centre on the lines suggested by the NPC, NHRC and the petitioners, and if so, to denote its functions and composition
2. Prescribing a procedure for the appointment of Police Chiefs which would be transparent and ensure that the best officers are selected and giving the senior incumbents a minimum tenure
3. Insulating the investigative wing of the police from its law and order functions

The Committee was asked to deal with these issues first. The Committee dealt with them in its first report, which was submitted in October 1998. The Committee submitted its second report in March 1999. To see a summary of the recommendations made by the Committee in these two reports, click below:

Summary of Ribeiro Committee's Recommendations

Besides visiting States and interacting with government officials, the Ribeiro Committee collected the views of different persons and organisations through a questionnaire. The CHRI made its submissions to the Committee. To see the CHRI's submissions to the Committee, click below:

Submissions made by the CHRI to the Ribeiro Committee on Police Reforms

The recommendations made by the Ribeiro Committee were analysed by the CHRI in January 1999. The analysis may be seen by clicking below:

Report of the Ribeiro Committee on Police Reforms- A Critical Analysis