Police Reforms – Delhi Police Introduces Weekly Public Hearing Initiative
Police Reforms – Delhi Police has rolled out a new initiative aimed at strengthening communication with residents, improving access to police services, and ensuring that public complaints are addressed without delay. The move comes as part of a broader effort to build trust between law enforcement agencies and citizens while making grievance handling more efficient across the national capital.
New Directions for Better Public Access
The decision follows a high-level review meeting attended by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Police Commissioner Satish Golchha, and senior police officials. According to the newly issued guidelines, police units across Delhi will adopt a more structured system for receiving and resolving public concerns. The framework is designed to increase accountability among officers while encouraging direct interaction with local communities.
Weekly Public Hearings at Police Stations
Under the new arrangement, every police station in Delhi will organize a dedicated public hearing programme known as Thana Divas-Jan Sunwai. The sessions will take place every Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and are scheduled to begin from the coming week.
These hearings will function as an open platform where residents can present complaints, seek assistance, offer suggestions, or raise issues related to public safety and police functioning. Authorities believe that direct engagement at the police station level will help address concerns more quickly and improve transparency in the system.
Senior Officers to Oversee Proceedings
To ensure effective implementation, officers ranging from Assistant Commissioner of Police rank to Special Commissioner rank will participate in the hearings on a rotational basis. Their involvement is expected to accelerate decision-making and improve the quality of grievance resolution.
Police officials stated that the presence of senior officers during these sessions will help resolve matters promptly while reinforcing public confidence in the complaint redressal process.
Detailed Record-Keeping Made Mandatory
The circular directs every police station to maintain a separate record of issues raised during the public hearings. Authorities have emphasized that all visitors attending the Jan Sunwai must be heard, regardless of whether their complaint has already been registered through the Integrated Complaint Monitoring System (ICMS).
Any complaint received during the hearing will be formally accepted and later uploaded to the digital monitoring system. This measure is intended to ensure that no grievance is overlooked and that every complaint enters the official review process.
Citizen-Friendly Arrangements at Police Stations
Station House Officers have been instructed to create a welcoming environment during the weekly hearings. This includes arranging proper seating facilities, setting up assistance desks, and ensuring that visitors receive necessary guidance while presenting their concerns.
The guidelines also require complaints that need verification or detailed inquiry to be assigned immediately for further action. Monitoring of complaint disposal will take place at multiple supervisory levels to ensure timely progress.
Accountability Across the Chain of Command
The responsibility for successful execution of the programme will rest with Station House Officers, Assistant Commissioners of Police, and district-level Deputy Commissioners of Police. Senior leadership has been tasked with regularly reviewing implementation and ensuring that public grievances are handled effectively.
Officials expect the initiative to improve responsiveness within the police force, provide citizens with a direct channel for communication, and contribute to a stronger relationship between law enforcement authorities and the communities they serve