INDIAPresident Pranab Mukherjee calls for thorough revision of IPC
Shyam P V | TNN | Feb 26, 2016, 11.05 PM IST
President Pranab Mukherjee. (PTI photo).
KOCHI: The police in the country must incorporate inclusiveness and tolerance — the essential ingredients of the democracy — in its functioning, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday
He was delivering the inaugural speech at the valedictory function of the yearlong celebrations of the 155th anniversary of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) organized by the Kerala Directorate of Prosecution here on Friday evening.
The comment has come a week after the Congress leaders led by the party vice-president Rahul Gandhi met President in New Delhi over the JNU row and highlighted the "lawlessness" in the national capital in the wake of Patiala House court attacks and the way the NDA government handled the JNU row. The Congress and other opposition parties had been demanded immediate removal of Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi since the JNU row and Patiala House court incident.
"The police in our country must go beyond its role of being merely a law-enforcing body ... The founding fathers of the Constitution had conceived inclusiveness, tolerance, self-restraint, honesty, discipline, respect and protection of women, senior citizens and weaker sections as essential ingredients of our democracy. Our police must incorporate these features in its functioning," the President said.
The President said that responsibility was on the country's law-enforcing agencies to work towards transforming the "archaic police system" and bring it in tune with the requirements of a modern democratic nation. "Our police must ensure quick redressal of the grievances of the common man," said the President adding that the police must partner other stakeholders in creating a peaceful and secure atmosphere conducive to progress and prosperity.
Earlier, welcoming all the dignitaries, the director general of prosecution, Kerala, T Asaf Ali said the during the Freedom Movement, various IPC provisions were widely misused. "Section 124 (a) related to sedition was one of the most controversial penal provision to be used during Freedom struggle. Torch bearers of national independence movement like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi were tried and convicted under section 124 (a) of the IPC," he said.
The President in his speech said that there's no doubt that the IPC as a premier code for criminal law is a model piece of legislation. "Nevertheless, it requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the 21ts century ... Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable. Even now, there are offences in the code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs. Yet, there are many new offences which have to be properly defines and incorporated in the code," President said.
He pointing out new offences like economic crimes and cybercrimes and said this "call for an ingenuous and proactive response from the law providers".
Concluding his speech, Mukherjee reminded that the public prosecutors are obliged to ensure that the accused receive a fair trial while looking after the interests of the victims. "It is therefore essential to equip public prosecutors with tools and knowledge to enable them to effectively respond to various forms of crimes," he said.
Kerala governor Justice P Sathasivam, chief minister Oommen Chandy, Kerala high court Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and advocate general KP Dandapani spoke on the occasion.
He was delivering the inaugural speech at the valedictory function of the yearlong celebrations of the 155th anniversary of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) organized by the Kerala Directorate of Prosecution here on Friday evening.
The comment has come a week after the Congress leaders led by the party vice-president Rahul Gandhi met President in New Delhi over the JNU row and highlighted the "lawlessness" in the national capital in the wake of Patiala House court attacks and the way the NDA government handled the JNU row. The Congress and other opposition parties had been demanded immediate removal of Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi since the JNU row and Patiala House court incident.
"The police in our country must go beyond its role of being merely a law-enforcing body ... The founding fathers of the Constitution had conceived inclusiveness, tolerance, self-restraint, honesty, discipline, respect and protection of women, senior citizens and weaker sections as essential ingredients of our democracy. Our police must incorporate these features in its functioning," the President said.
The President said that responsibility was on the country's law-enforcing agencies to work towards transforming the "archaic police system" and bring it in tune with the requirements of a modern democratic nation. "Our police must ensure quick redressal of the grievances of the common man," said the President adding that the police must partner other stakeholders in creating a peaceful and secure atmosphere conducive to progress and prosperity.
Earlier, welcoming all the dignitaries, the director general of prosecution, Kerala, T Asaf Ali said the during the Freedom Movement, various IPC provisions were widely misused. "Section 124 (a) related to sedition was one of the most controversial penal provision to be used during Freedom struggle. Torch bearers of national independence movement like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi were tried and convicted under section 124 (a) of the IPC," he said.
The President in his speech said that there's no doubt that the IPC as a premier code for criminal law is a model piece of legislation. "Nevertheless, it requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the 21ts century ... Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable. Even now, there are offences in the code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs. Yet, there are many new offences which have to be properly defines and incorporated in the code," President said.
He pointing out new offences like economic crimes and cybercrimes and said this "call for an ingenuous and proactive response from the law providers".
Top Comment
He is still behaving as Sonia's chamcha. He is the president now and so should maintain his dignity by not commenting on... Read MoreConcluding his speech, Mukherjee reminded that the public prosecutors are obliged to ensure that the accused receive a fair trial while looking after the interests of the victims. "It is therefore essential to equip public prosecutors with tools and knowledge to enable them to effectively respond to various forms of crimes," he said.
Kerala governor Justice P Sathasivam, chief minister Oommen Chandy, Kerala high court Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and advocate general KP Dandapani spoke on the occasion.
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