Editorial
Disposing of court orders in a week's time
Good police initiative
We appreciate the decision by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to have court orders disposed of within seven days of their receipt. Indeed, the fact that the police department has acted on its own to take such a step reflects the desire for improved performance on the part of the police. This is especially important considering that for years the police have been under a cloud regarding their reluctance to submit reports on cases filed by individuals as well as act on court orders on some pretext or the other. It has not been unusual for citizens to be put through long periods of suffering owing to the laid-back attitude of the police in responding to court orders. Such suffering has been manifested through policemen asking for illegal gratification, sometimes from both parties to a dispute, as a precondition to the filing of reports. Additionally, there is a long record of the police filing no cases at all where the accused have been people wielding political influence.
It is in light of such realities that the DMP move to authorise officers in charge (OCs) of police stations in the capital to deal with matters within a week of receiving court orders assumes importance. It is our expectation that the internal order, as part of the streamlining being carried out in various sectors of the civil administration, will yield the kind of results that have long eluded citizens. All too often, people have been subjected to a miscarriage of justice even before legal proceedings have got underway because of the harassment they are put to. Such miscarriage occurs as a result of either police reports not being prepared and submitted at all or, once they are produced, are seen to be overtly biased towards or against individuals or groups. In other words, it is such distortion of realities that has often made a mockery of the system of justice at the primary level. Hopefully, such a legacy will now begin to be rolled back now that a good initiative has finally been taken. We will hope that the initiative will not end up as one more instance of mere lip service.
The step by the police to have all court orders complied with within a week of receiving them is, we would like to think, part of a self-corrective process within the police department. The success of the measure ultimately depends on a continued and effective monitoring of the work of police personnel vis-à-vis investigations, preparation and submission of reports and disposal of court orders.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments