Karnataka sets up three panels under retired DGPs to chart police reforms

Karnataka's Home Department has constituted three committees, each headed by a retired Director General of Police, to recommend specific reforms across the state police force. The panels have been asked to submit their recommendations within two months.

The committees will be led by former police chief R.K. Dutta and retired DGPs M.N. Reddi and Kamal Pant. Serving officers will serve as members of each panel, Home Minister Priyank Kharge said on Monday.

Review of police services

The committee headed by Mr. Dutta will carry out a comprehensive review of police services and suggest ways to make them more efficient, prompt, transparent, citizen-friendly and technology-driven.

Its remit covers the range of services the police provide, including registration of FIRs, receipt of complaints, the functioning of police stations, emergency services, reporting of lost property, cybercrime complaints, and the grant of permissions and certificates. The panel will also propose key performance indicators and a periodic review mechanism to assess service quality, and examine the introduction of a Citizens' Charter laying down service standards, including the time and procedure within which each service should be delivered.

Modernisation and capability

The committee to be led by Mr. Reddi, a former Bengaluru Police Commissioner, will review the department's infrastructure and capabilities and prepare a comprehensive modernisation plan centred on technology, artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities and other emerging requirements.

It will assess the scope for upgrading emergency response systems, control rooms and the 112 service, and review the strengthening of forensic laboratories along with requirements for police vehicles and other mobility infrastructure. The panel will also study the potential use of artificial intelligence in policing, the computerisation of departmental functions, hardware and communication equipment needs, and the establishment of police training academies at the state and regional levels.

Cadre, recruitment and career progression

The third committee, to be headed by Mr. Pant, also a former Bengaluru Police Commissioner, will comprehensively review the department's cadre structure, the classification and strength of posts, and recruitment rules in line with current workload and future requirements.

It will examine recruitment procedures and eligibility criteria, and look at measures to strengthen training and capacity-building systems and support the professional development of police personnel. The panel will study promotion opportunities, career progression and mobility across the police hierarchy, assess the need to create new posts and reclassify existing ones, review the structure of police posts in relation to reservation requirements, and formulate a recruitment plan.