BHRC takes suo motu cognizance of police department's calendar

Taking exception to a 2015 calendar released by Bihar Police CID (Weaker Section), the Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) today issued notice to CID (Weaker Section) Additional Director General (ADG) Arvind Pandey for purported violation of human rights and sought his response within three weeks.
A leaf of the calendar bearing a caption "ring Jehangir for redress" depicts that Pandey, then an Inspector General (IG) for Darbhanga zone, had installed a bell outside his residence so that aggrieved persons could ring it to seek his attention on the lines of the famous bell installed for the purpose by Mughal emperor Jehangir.

BHRC Chairperson Justice (Retired) Bilal Nazki said it appears Pandey gave an interview to the press stating that he took a leaf out of history in putting in place the system of installing call bells at police officers' residences for the people in need.
Nazki added that Pandey had additionally said he was impressed with Mughal emperor Jehangir placing a chain bell outside his palace, which people used to pull to tell him their grievances, hence named the initiative "Jehangiri ghanta" or Jehangir's Bell.
"I feel this is a reflection of the colonial mindset where the police officer wants people to come to his residence with their 'fariyad' (appeals). We have asked him (Pandey) why this should not be treated as violations of human rights of the citizens of a civilised and democratic society. The world and India has changed in last three centuries," Nazki added.

When contacted by PTI over the issue, Pandey refused to comment and said he will give the reply to BHRC.