Odisha Police Bill: Human Rights Activists meet Governor

Representatives of Civil Society Forum on Human Rights, a rights organization on Thursday met Governor of Odisha Dr. S.C. Jamir and expressed their grave concern about Odisha Police Bill 2015.

A four member team headed by noted human rights activist Dhirendra Panda, the Convener of Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR) discussed with the Governor and submitted a memorandum to him

“We urge the Governor to kindly review the bill, keeping in view the constitutional provisions along with the central laws and the objective of the judgement of Apex Court in Prakash Singh case and requested him to recall the Police Bill 2015 and to exercise his power and place the bill for wider public debate and consultation before it is passed in the Odisha legislative Assembly”, said Dhirendra Panda after discussion with the Governor.

Civil Society has been opposing the bill in the present form. They alleged that it is not prepared as per the direction of Supreme Court. State Government has not followed the apex court suggestion when drafting the bill, the activists complained.

As the Statement of Objects and Reasons tells, it will have a people’s friendly, imperative to good governance, respectful to human rights; there is a need to ensure people’s participation in the formulation of the Bill, said Akhand, rights activist and a member of this delegation team.

Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and State Security Commission are constituted in such a way they cant work independently and impartial. The Civil Society group has already demanded to send the bill to assembly select committee.

Today, Governor assured them to look into the matter and forward it to the Office of the Chief Minister of Odisha and Department of Law. Other team members include human rights activist Chandranath Dani and Pragnya Paramita Jena.