Shrutika Patil, Pune
In a significant overhaul more than six decades after the initial norms were established in 1960, the Maharashtra state government has sanctioned a comprehensive framework to modernise various facets of the state police force.
The revamp encompasses the establishment of police stations and provides guidelines for the strategic setup of new police stations across the state.
The Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, underlined these new regulations during the recently concluded monsoon session of the state legislature.
Addressing the council, Fadnavis emphasised, “Policing in the state was on the basis of the norms set in 1960 as per the then population, and even though there had been several changes in the state, the framework had not been amended. A new framework has been formulated after 60 years this year, which will be followed going ahead.”
One of the pivotal reforms poised for imminent implementation is a stringent geographical criterion for police station locations. Within urban areas, the maximum distance between two police stations will be capped at four kilometres, while rural areas will observe a larger 10-kilometer radius.
This revamped framework also benefits the home department by facilitating the justification and funding allocation for new police stations through a structured approach.
Beyond station proximity, the reform incorporates the prevalence of cyber and financial crimes. Police stations will now be strategically established in proximity to banks, financial institutions, commercial centers, educational campuses, hostels, religious sites, courts, major dams, power plants, and nuclear facilities.
The 2023 framework goes further to mandate the consideration of data from the police helpline (112) when determining police station placements.
Additionally, the framework addresses the workload of constables, limiting the number of summonses they handle to four from the existing burden of 14 to 15. This reduction is envisioned to enhance the quality of their contributions.
The official further revealed that the overhaul extends to various specialised units within the police force, such as Highway Police, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Anti-Naxal Operations, and Force One. Furthermore, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) tailored to combat cybercrime is being finalised for statewide implementation.