Administrative Reforms Commission favours deployment of forces to control public order problems

Second Administrative Reforms Commission in its report on Public Order has recommended that:

New Delhi, Aug.22 : Second Administrative Reforms Commission in its report on Public Order has recommended that:

(I) A law should be enacted to empower the Union Government to deploy its Forces and to even direct such Forces in case of major public order problems which may lead to the breakdown of the constitutional machinery in a State.

However, such deployment should take place only after the State concerned fails to act on a 'direction' issued by the Union under Article 256 of the Constitution. All such deployments should be only for a temporary period not exceeding three months, which could be extended by another three months after authorization by Parliament.

(II)The law should spell out the hierarchy of the civil administration which would supervise the forces under circumstances.

(III)There is need to re-examine certain offences which have inter-state or national ramification and include them in a new law. The law should also prescribe the procedure for investigation and trails of such offences. The following offences may be included in this category:

iOrganised Crime

iiTerrorism

iiiActs threatening National security

ivTrafficking in arms and human beings

vSedition

viMajor crimes with inter-state ramifications

viiAssassination of (including attempts on) major public figures

viiiSerious economic offences.

(IV)A new law should be eacted to govern the working of the CBI. This law should also stipulate its jurisdiction including the power to investigate the new category of crimes.

(V)The empowered committee recommended in the Commission's Report on 'Ethics in Governance' would decide on cases to be taken over by the CBI.

These recommendations are being examined. The States would also be consulted whenever required.

This information was given by Minister of State for Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Suresh Pachouri, in the Lok Sabha today.

ANI