Question

Which key aspect is emphasized in the recommendations of the Second Administrative Reforms Committee (ARC) on police reforms?

• A. Absolute authority of the police personnel in dealing with offenders
• B. Political control over police
• C. Strengthening community policing
• D. Increased funding for prisons

Hint:

Modern police reform initiatives, including the 2nd ARC and the Supreme Court's directives in the Prakash Singh case, consistently revolve around three core ideas: Accountability, Insulation from extraneous influences, and Community-centric policing.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), headed by Veerappa Moily, was constituted in 2005 to prepare a detailed blueprint for revamping the public administration system. Its fifth report, titled "Public Order," dealt extensively with police reforms.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the aspects mentioned in the options:

(A) Absolute authority of the police: No democratic reform commission would recommend this. The ARC focused on making the police more accountable, not giving them absolute authority.
(B) Political control over police: The ARC, like most police reform bodies, recommended insulating the police from illegitimate political interference, not strengthening political control. It suggested establishing State Police Commissions to ensure this.
(C) Strengthening community policing: This was a major theme of the report. The ARC emphasized that police should function as a service that is accountable to the community. It recommended various measures to bridge the gap between the police and the public, making policing more cooperative and community-oriented.
(D) Increased funding for prisons: While important, this falls under prison reforms. The ARC's "Public Order" report was primarily focused on police reforms, with its main thrust being on accountability, performance, and the police-public interface.
Step 3: Final Answer:
A key emphasis of the Second ARC's report on Public Order was to make policing more citizen-centric, which includes the strengthening of community policing.