The Hindu : New Delhi News : Checks and balances

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

Checks and balances

The unit under the Vigilance Branch will address complaints of corruption among traffic police. Devesh K. Pandey tells more….

Corruption in any set-up renders it incapable of functioning in an efficient manner. The Delhi traffic police, like most other public dealing offices in this country, are not exactly a brotherhood of saints. Given this, the establishment of a Special Checking Unit under the Vigilance Branch now to address complaints of corruption among traffic police men is indeed a welcome step.

The extent to which corruption is prevalent in the traffic police can be gauged from the fact that many in the Delhi police force vie for a posting there. Although with a transfer and posting committee in place now it is no longer easy for them to get a posting of their choice, this has, however, not changed the public perception. The traffic police are still widely seen as generally corrupt.

Not long ago, the Blueline bus drivers who were under fire for crushing people on the roads had accused the traffic police of extorting a certain amount from them per traffic signal falling on different routes across the Capital. They alleged that many policemen collected their “cut” through civilians to evade detection.

While the basic job of the traffic police is to manage vehicular flow, many allege that they show more interest in waving down vehicles and negotiating with violators to make an extra buck. On several occasions they have been accused of being hand-in-glove with the parking lot mafia, allowing them to get more vehicles parked than sanctioned.

Even though there was an internal system earlier of addressing complaints of corruption in the department, police officers feel that the Special Checking Unit -- in which officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police would be deputed by rotation as Public Grievance Officers -- would ensure that cases against traffic police men are investigated in a more objective manner.

The pro-active approach of the Unit in identifying those indulging in corrupt practices through surprise checks would also work as an effective deterrent.

Another recent decision that is expected to bring down the level of corruption in the traffic police is implementation of the “Special Traffic Wardens” scheme under which people from all walks of life -- mostly defence officers, retired and serving senior government officials, people from organised sectors, institutions and organisations -- are being involved to manage traffic and register violations.

These wardens are authorised to report violations and any traffic-related problem such as a faulty traffic signal and encroachment or improper parking leading to congestion. They are also expected to share ideas like road-engineering alterations for smooth vehicular flow.

Given the fact that Delhi’s Police Commissioner while taking charge earlier this year assured that urgent steps would be taken to streamline traffic in the city, it is hoped that things will gradually improve on the Capital’s roads.

Keeping in view future requirements, the authorities would do well to install high-speed cameras and develop an in-built mechanism to register the date, time and the nature of violation at all traffic intersections. This would help in minimising interaction between the police officer and the violator, thereby reducing the scope for corruption.

Apart from mechanisation of the traffic management system, the traffic police should also target their campaigns at effectively disciplining road users and not at merely making a fast buck “challaning” people in the name of “enforcement”.

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