HC slams centre for not increasing Delhi Police strength

The Delhi High Court on Thursday slammed the central government for not providing concrete proposals to improve the security situation in the national capital.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva expressed disappointment at the central government not taking adequate steps for the safety of citizens by increasing the number of police personnel.

"What is the concrete proposals of centre? Why do such decisions take so long? If you do not have the funds then tell us, we will close the matter. What is your proposal for security of Delhi?" asked the bench, expressing its disappointment over the central government not clearing the funds for recruitment of additional policemen despite its repeated orders since July 2013.

In its July 2013 order, the court had asked the government to recruit an additional 14,869 personnel for Delhi Police, at a cost of around Rs.450 crore.

In December 2015, the government told the court that it has sanctioned 4,227 posts in Delhi Police exclusively for separating criminal investigation from maintaining law and order and the union finance ministry's expenditure department added that these posts would be operationalised in two equal tranches in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

"The home ministry says go ahead. They approve everything but the finance ministry says no. What is the stand of the government of India?" asked the bench.

The court also rapped Delhi government noting that approximately 11,000 samples were pending in the forensic science laboratories due to which investigation in criminal cases were hampered.

"Nobody is serious. Both governments (centre and Delhi) say they are interested (in doing work). Let there be 'jugle raj'... whoever survives survives," the bench remarked.

Earlier, the court directed the central government to increase police force here and Delhi government to set up more forensic laboratories.

The court was hearing a PIL initiated by it after the December 16, 2012 gangrape incident in which it has been giving directions on the issues of women safety including appointing more police personnel, setting up additional forensic labs and a victim compensation fund.

--IANS

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