Police Discretion in India

Police discretion is a vast domain of power which can be used for doing reasonably good for those who are subject to it. Police play a significant role in weighing the balance in the life of the people it governs. One of the attributes of such exercise of discretion is the power to arrest, which exercised judiciously benefits and when abused, harms. This academic work by Dr. Satyajit Mohanty, IPS (retd) is significant in understanding and broadening one's view on such discretion used by the police and how it can evolve for the greater good. Justice K.G Balakrishnan, Former Chief Justice of India An outstanding book meticulously researched and the fact that it is written by an insider (former police officer) makes it insightful. The author's extensive research and work on a subject which concerns every individual yet has rarely been written about, provides a critical analysis of Indian policing and what ails it and where we need to look to reform Indian policing. It was an eye opener for me!! Sidharth Luthra, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India Discourse on police discretion in the context of Indian police is mostly anecdotal as rarely any empirical study has been attempted. The book seeks to address the issues and concerns while the police exercise discretion in their powers of arrest, and explaining at the same time the gaps that exist between the legislative intent and actual law enforcement with compelling findings. Prakash Singh,(formerly) Director General of Police Assam, Uttar Pradesh and DG BSF Police discretion in arrests can make a critical difference not only to the maintenance of law and order, but also to public trust in the institutions of a democracy like India. Combining considerable primary research and rigorous academic method, and drawing on the author's decades of experience as a police officer, this book is incredibly important for scholars, lawmakers, and security officials interested in police and law reform. Amitav Acharya, Distinguished Professor of International Relations, American University, Washington DC The wide and discretionary arrest powers of police have been the subject of critical debates over the past seventy-five years of Indian independence. An outstanding book written by a distinguished police officer, it explores the processes and methods to prevent its abuse in the best interests of society and police. It is a must read for teachers, scholars, judges, police officers, policy makers and all those who are concerned with the study of abuse of power by the police and its accountability. Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao, Vice Chancellor, National Law University Delhi