The Police are supposed to protect the law, but what happens when they abuse the powers and become the perpetrators themselves?

“As per the recent study of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), UP has topped the list of human rights violation cases three times in a row. Around 40% [Almost half] of human rights violation cases lodged annually by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the past three financial years  31st October 2021, were from Uttar Pradesh, according to data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Rajya Sabha on 8th December 2021.”

As a lawyer practicing in Delhi-NCR, I have been closely connected with the ground reality; it is disheartening to see that this issue finds the least attention from our elected representatives and the media.

UP Police force has resorted to brutal and excessive force, including firing into crowds, beating up bystanders, detaining, and torturing men, women, and children alike. “Torture in police stations is so routine, that they are often used merely for impressing spectators”. Whenever police are accused of custodial torture and deaths, in such cases a fair and impartial investigation is rare. On 11th February 2020, NHRC had issued a show-cause notice to UP Government for policy brutality happening sporadically in the State.  

The alarming rate at which police brutality has cast a shadow over UP should scare us all as citizens collectively. If custodial violence is allowed to continue, public faith in the police will be completely eroded and the system of justice will collapse.

Sign and share this petition now and demand #PoliceReformsInUP, starting with the installations of CCTV in all police stations across the state to ensure accountability and transparency.

With CCTV installed in the police station, it can decrease the flagrant abuse of power, disproportionate force on the poor and minorities, unlawful activities which lead to wrongful confinement, misconduct, corruption, unfair inquiry, destruction of evidence, custodial torture, furnishing false evidence, and unwarranted high-handedness that gives them more impetus to commit a crime under the garb of maintaining law and order in the State.

I am merely demanding what our Hon'ble Supreme Court has already ordered and what the Union MHA has issued guidelines for. All that remains is for the UP govt to implement it.

If UP has nothing to hide, then it should have no problem with installing CCTVs in police stations. If UP sets an example, other states will definitely follow. Therefore, with all the laws, rules, and regulations already in place, the idea behind this petition is to: 

1. Appeal to the elected Government in UP to implement the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and install CCTV cameras in each police station in UP. 
2. Follow the SC guidelines while installing CCTV cameras in all police stations in UP and also constitute an oversight committee at the state and district level for this purpose.
3. The elected State Government to follow the detailed direction given by the MHA for installation of CCTV cameras in police stations and also furnish a status report for the same by the end of the first working year of the next elected govt.

It may seem like a far-fetched dream, but I can only imagine the changes this petition can bring if this becomes the movement of the masses and if everyone starts demanding answers from the authorities.

Take the first step. Sign and share this petition. Tag influencers. Ask media to report. Tweet and post with #PoliceReformsInUP

The trust between the public and the police seems broken today, only We The People of India can rebuild it.