Break nexus with political class, reclaim public trust, CJI tells police at CBI lecture

CJI N.V. Ramana’s cautionary words come at a time when several Opposition chief ministers have trained their guns at the Centre for “misusing” central probe agencies.

File photo of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana | ANI

New Delhi: The police should reclaim social legitimacy and public trust by breaking the “nexus with the political executive”, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana said on Friday.

Ramana was speaking at the CBI’s D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture on the topic — ‘Democracy: Role and Responsibilities of Investigative Agencies’.

The chief justice said investigative agencies should “stand by ethics and integrity”. “It stands true for all institutions,” he said.

Ramana said the police’s image has been tarnished due to corruption, excesses, lack of impartiality and a close nexus with the political class. “People hesitate to approach the police in times of despair,” he said.

The chief justice’s cautionary words come at a time when several Opposition chief ministers have trained their guns at the Centre for “misusing” central probe agencies. They have accused the Centre of muzzling dissent with their help.

Ramana indicated that at times the shoe was also on the other foot. He said: “Often police officers have complained of being harassed after a regime change.”

The chief justice detailed the several issues plaguing probe agencies. “Lack of infrastructure and manpower, inhuman conditions at lowest levels, lack of modern equipment, questionable methods of procuring evidence, officers violating the rulebook and lack of accountability are reasons among them,” Ramana said.

The D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture was held Friday after a two-year Covid break.

It is an annual affair organised in memory of CBI founder-director D.P. Kohli.