Translation from English

Friday, February 26, 2016

Times of India


President Pranab Mukherjee calls for thorough revision of IPC

 | TNN | 
President Pranab Mukherjee. (PTI photo).President Pranab Mukherjee. (PTI photo).
KOCHI: The police in the country must incorporate inclusiveness and tolerance — the essential ingredients of the democracy — in its functioning, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Friday

He was delivering the inaugural speech at the valedictory function of the yearlong celebrations of the 155th anniversary of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) organized by the Kerala Directorate of Prosecution here on Friday evening.

The comment has come a week after the Congress leaders led by the party vice-president Rahul Gandhi met President in New Delhi over the JNU row and highlighted the "lawlessness" in the national capital in the wake of Patiala House court attacks and the way the NDA government handled the JNU row. The Congress and other opposition parties had been demanded immediate removal of Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi since the JNU row and Patiala House court incident.

"The police in our country must go beyond its role of being merely a law-enforcing body ... The founding fathers of the Constitution had conceived inclusiveness, tolerance, self-restraint, honesty, discipline, respect and protection of women, senior citizens and weaker sections as essential ingredients of our democracy. Our police must incorporate these features in its functioning," the President said.

The President said that responsibility was on the country's law-enforcing agencies to work towards transforming the "archaic police system" and bring it in tune with the requirements of a modern democratic nation. "Our police must ensure quick redressal of the grievances of the common man," said the President adding that the police must partner other stakeholders in creating a peaceful and secure atmosphere conducive to progress and prosperity.

Earlier, welcoming all the dignitaries, the director general of prosecution, Kerala, T Asaf Ali said the during the Freedom Movement, various IPC provisions were widely misused. "Section 124 (a) related to sedition was one of the most controversial penal provision to be used during Freedom struggle. Torch bearers of national independence movement like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi were tried and convicted under section 124 (a) of the IPC," he said.


The President in his speech said that there's no doubt that the IPC as a premier code for criminal law is a model piece of legislation. "Nevertheless, it requires a thorough revision to meet the changing needs of the 21ts century ... Very few crimes have been added to the initial list of crimes and declared punishable. Even now, there are offences in the code which were enacted by the British to meet their colonial needs. Yet, there are many new offences which have to be properly defines and incorporated in the code," President said.


He pointing out new offences like economic crimes and cybercrimes and said this "call for an ingenuous and proactive response from the law providers".

Top Comment

He is still behaving as Sonia's chamcha. He is the president now and so should maintain his dignity by not commenting on... Read MoreAryan Shah


Concluding his speech, Mukherjee reminded that the public prosecutors are obliged to ensure that the accused receive a fair trial while looking after the interests of the victims. "It is therefore essential to equip public prosecutors with tools and knowledge to enable them to effectively respond to various forms of crimes," he said.


Kerala governor Justice P Sathasivam, chief minister Oommen Chandy, Kerala high court Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and advocate general KP Dandapani spoke on the occasion.

          109 COMMENTS

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          Aryan Shah
          4022
          He is still behaving as Sonia's chamcha. He is the president now and so should maintain his dignity by not commenting on stuffs where opinions don't matter. Why can'y he be more like Kalam
          34 5 ReplyFlag
          R Tirki
          9818
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          Modi is not telling the truth, It was Gandhi and Patel who introduced corruption in India. MK Gandhi(Real destroyer of India; Introduced politician businessman nexus(followed by congress and Marwari dominated BJP), introduced Muslim appeasement and still followed by congress, and destroyer of democracy. Patel was an agent of Birla and was instrumental in selling British companies like Bennet Coleman/ Duncan to Marwari's at throw away prices. If Patel were pm Marwari's will be owning everything and ... Read More
          3 9 ReplyFlag
          BM
          4769
          -
          Yes, only two pence Italians are honest and speak truth.
          1 0 ReplyFlag
          R Tirki
          9818
          --
          Italian may be corrupt but Gujarati and Marwari;s are certified corrupt.
          1 2 ReplyFlag
          Show all responses 
          Greatview
          47
          -
          Old habits die hard.. Raul says something and there is an echo without fail from the palace
          8 3 ReplyFlag
          Deviprasad Nayak
          35975
          president is representing British queen
          5 2 ReplyFlag
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