Government asked to clear stand on creating separate wings in police

NEW DELHI: The Centre was today asked by the Delhi High Court to file its response on the issue of separating maintenance of law and order and carrying out of investigation by the Delhi Police for ensuring better detection of cases.


A bench of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Vibhu Bakhru asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Rajeeve Mehra to file an affidavit on the issue within two weeks and posted the matter for August 22.

"The Centre to file an affidavit within two weeks on the issue of separation of law and order from investigation in the Delhi Police," the bench said.

The court's order came in the wake of a submission by Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan in December 16 gangrape case that the police have used scientific method for investigation of the case and the probe is in progress.

"Why don't you apply the scientific method in all other cases. Do you think the law and order situation has improved in the city," the bench asked the police.

The court observed that if the wings are separated, many criminals will not get away and there will be an improvement in the law and order situation in the metropolis.

To this, the public prosecutor said that the issue of separation is in the hands of the Union of India.

The ASG told the court that by next date of hearing, he will make the government's stand clear.

During the course of arguments, counsel Meera Bhatia, who is assisting the court in the 23-year-old paramedical student's gangrape case, said, "On macro level nothing has been done. Law and order in the city is still bad and a lot needs to be done."

She also said that all PCR vans are not fully equipped to meet the situation like the December 16 gangrape incident.