Transparency vital in police reforms

The Assam Police authorities issuing a circular directing police officers in the rank of Inspector and Sub-Inspector (SI) to submit annual property return statement is praiseworthy. The circular will be a milestone in fight against malpractices and corruption in the Assam Police if its implementation in toto is ensured. All police officers in the rank of inspector and SI will now be required to submit their annual property returns in two formats- one for movable property and another for immovable property—regularly latest by January 31 to their respective Appointing Authority or Disciplinary Authority. The submission of property returns has been linked to their promotion, deputation and some other benefits which are expected to ensure compliance. The circular states that the officers who do not submit the annual property statements in time will be denied vigilance clearance and will not considered for promotion, deputation to other organisations, permission for foreign tour, permission for availing bank loan and No Objection Certificate for passport. Non-submission of the returns will be recorded in the 'Integrity' column of the Annual Confidential Report and disciplinary actions will be initiated for violating provision of Assam Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965.

The circular is based on the Rule 11(1)(a) of these Rules which requires every government servant is to immovable property inherited, or owned or acquired or held on lease or mortgage either in the officer's names or in the name of any member of the family or in any other person's name. The circular also mentions that the immovable property returns submitted by the officers in these two ranks will be placed in the public domain/government website. This will bring more transparency as people will be able to view the asset details on the website and bring to the notice of the government if they notice any discrepancies in the returns and not declaring any asset they know has been acquired by the officer concerned by corrupt means. A section of corrupt police officers amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income has tarnished the image of the Assam Police and eroded its credibility. In absence of transparency of the income and assets, the public tend to paint all police officers with the same brush. Such public perception often lowers the morale of honest officers while the corrupt officers carry on their malpractices and corruption unchallenged till someone decides to approach the vigilance and anti-corruption officials to expose them. The circular can be expected to boost the morale of honest officers in the Assam Police who have nothing to hide either from the government or from the public.

Submission of property returns will have to be followed up rigorously to find out if the assets of any official is disproportionate to income. Wide publicity on availability of the return on the official website should be given among the general public to facilitate easy access by vigilant citizens. The Assam Police must ensure confidentiality of the members of the public who wish to remain anonymous while bringing to the notice of the authorities about any discrepancies in asset declaration. The State government must ensure that decision the Assam Police on submission of property returns in respect of Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors is also made applicable in respect of off Submission of property returns will have to be followed up rigorously to find out if the assets of any official is disproportionate to income. Wide publicity on availability of the return on the official website should be given among the general public to facilitate easy access by vigilant citizens. The Assam Police must ensure confidentiality of the membersSubmission of property returns will have to be followed up rigorously to find out if the assets of any official is disproportionate to income. Wide publicity on availability of the return on the official website should be given among the general public to facilitate easy access by vigilant citizens. The Assam Police must ensure confidentiality of the members not published on the police website or made available in the public domain. Investigations in the leakage of question paper in the written test for recruitment of SI in the Assam Police leading to unearthing of one of the prime accused- a Deputy Inspector General of Police amassing assets which raises question on the effectiveness of the existing system of asset declaration without transparency in respect of the officers in the rank above Inspectors.

Filing of annual Immovable property returns of all Indian Administrative Service officers and Indian Police Service officers which are linked to their vigilance clearance is mandatory and anyone can view the submitted returns which are uploaded in official websites for public access. Even though rules of the State government say that the immovable Property Returns submitted by APS officers shall be placed in public domain/official website of the respective administrative department, the submitted returns are not available in any official website for public access. As a result vigilant citizens are not in a position to lodge specific complaint against any corrupt police officer for lack of access to official information on their assets even after knowing that the officer has amassed huge wealth disproportionate their known sources of income. Homogeneity and transparency in the system from top to bottom will be critical to ensure that the circular issued in respect of the Inspectors and SI produces the desired outcome.