Police commissioner stresses use of technology for efficiency, curtailing expenditure
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Nov 13: MLC Ivan D'Souza expressed the view that bringing an ammendment to law to enable prisoners to get counselled towards achieving transformation of their minds can achieve wonders. He was speaking at the inaugural of the two-day workshop and fifth PMI Karnataka state convention 2016 organized by Prison Ministry Karnataka (PMI) at Shantikiran Bajjodi here on Friday.
Udupi Bishop, Fr Gerald Issac Lobo, observed that many commit mistakes, and some get confined in jails. He said that those who were put behind bars too have a right to lead dignified lives and advised people against treating them with derision.
Mangaluru Bishop, Fr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, presided the inaugural. He appreciated the role being played by Prison Ministry India in providing succour and kindling hope among prisoners. He felt that a number of innocent people get jailed when evil forces gang up against them.
PMI national coordinator, Fr Sebastian, felt that there is a need to build bridges between minds of people living inside the jails and those inside. MLA J R Lobo felt that a jail inmate who gets enlightened can enlighten others after coming out of it.
PMI co-founder, Fr Francis Kodiyan and PMI city unit convener, Prakash D'Cunha, were present.
City police commissioner, M Chandra Sekhar, emphasized the need to put to use modern technology by the police force not only to achieve speed and efficiency in its functioning, but also to reduce expenses. He came up with this view during the panel discussion on 'Justice delayed is justice denied', organized by Prison Ministry India at 'Shanti Kiran' in the city on Saturday November 12.
Chandra Sekhar noted that because of repeated adjournments of cases in courts, police personnel many a time lose their precious time in accompanying the accused to courts and bringing them back. As this is an avoidable expenditure, he insisted that using of video conferencing facility in such routine exercises saves lot of man hours for the police department and reduces spending by the department. The police can divert the time so saved for other important tasks, he noted.
The police commissioner expressed the view that sentencing a person for his deeds is more important that the extent of sentence awarded to him. He expressed apprehension about the judicial process losing out on credibility in the minds of the people because of inordinate delays. He pointed out that a simple cheque bounce case takes over six years to reach the concluding stage. This gives rise to the risk of the people resorting to arm twisting tactics, dependence on ruffians to recover their dues and use of extra constitutional methods to resolve differences. Unfortunately, this strengthens the anti social elements who would be considered a better option in such cases, he pointed out. "People should nurse a fear for law, not policemen. We should make every effort to see that cases are disposed within a specific time frame like in western countries," he added.
Speaking on the occasion, advocate from the city, M P Noronha, who noted that justice delivery system should not function like fast food delivery system, as hurried justice often results in buries justice, cautioned against putting more thrust on speedy verdicts. He observed that because of delay in delivering justice nearly three crore cases are pending in different courts in the country.
"More than the number of judges in courts, efficiency of lawyers and judges, and support of witnesses can help for speedy delivery of justice," he added.
Child rights activist, Sr Dulcin Crasta, who also spoke on the occasion, felt that society as a whole and justice system in particular should ensure that juvenile justice system is properly practised and it should be ensurued that the children are not robbed of their childhood because of delay in delivering justice.