Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 20 Dec: Governor, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), on Saturday addressed the National Conference titled “Police Reforms @20 (Prakash Singh Judgment: Towards a Developed India”, organized by the Global Counter Terrorism Council (GCTC) in New Delhi, as the Chief Guest through virtual mode from Lok Bhawan. The conference was organized to mark the completion of 20 years of the landmark Supreme Court judgment in Prakash Singh vs Union of India.
The conference was dedicated to the memory of the late Captain (Dr) Shekhar Dutt, SM, IAS (Retd), former Patron of the Council, who set high standards of administrative integrity, institutional reforms, and national service during his distinguished career.
Addressing the inaugural session, the Governor said that police reforms are not merely an administrative necessity, but form the foundation of democratic governance, public trust, and India’s long-term development. He stated that the conference was not just an academic or administrative exercise, but an important opportunity for national introspection.
He emphasized that the police, being the most visible expression of state authority and also the institution closest to citizens, must demonstrate greater restraint, impartiality, and accountability.
Referring to the Prakash Singh judgment, the Governor noted that its objective was to insulate the police from political interference, ensure fixed tenures, separate investigation from law and order, establish independent oversight mechanisms, and promote professional autonomy. He stressed that police reforms must be viewed in alignment with the broader vision of “Developed India 2047.” Areas such as women’s safety, technology, tourism, and environmental protection directly depend on the quality of policing.
Lt Gen Singh stated that women’s empowerment cannot be achieved merely through legislation, but through the sensitive, impartial, and effective implementation of laws. He added that a developed nation is built not only on infrastructure, but on credible institutions, and the most visible reflection of such credibility is seen in policing.
During the conference, tributes were paid to the late Captain Shekhar Dutt. Speakers remembered him as a visionary, compassionate, and reform-oriented administrator.
The main session of the conference was attended by GCTC Patron and former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu Singh, Laxmi Singh, Police Commissioner, Gautam Buddh Nagar, along with senior police officers, policy experts, academicians, and security analysts from across the country.
