Need committee to scrutinize failed police investigations: Kerala HC

KOCHI: State government should consider setting up a high-powered committee headed by a former high court judge to scrutinize the efficiency of probes conducted by its police agencies, the Kerala High Court suggested on Friday. Such a method would be better than having to entrust cases of inefficient probes to CBI, the court said.
The suggestion was put forward by justice Alexander Thomas after considering a case where a 73-year-old mother has been seeking an efficient probe into the death of her son in December 2006.
The mother, Ayshu of Eriyad near Kodungalloor, has now approached the high court seeking a CBI probe on the death of her son Abdu alleging that the probes conducted by local police and crime branch were improper. Considering petitions filed by the mother, the high court had issued orders twice for conducting an efficient probe in the matter. The court pointed out on Friday that lapses on the part of crime branch is continuing despite repeated interference by the high court.
Police, which is entrusted with the task of upholding law and order, is liable to conduct probes in such a way that it inspires confidence in the people. However, plenty of petitions are being filed at the high court alleging improper probes by police and seeking investigations by CBI. But courts cannot always encourage the demand for CBI probe. What is needed is to make efforts to increase the efficiency of police using all means. There is a trend that other investigating agencies are escaping from their liability to the public due to the blind belief placed on investigations conducted by CBI. In such a circumstance, CBI would have to take up cases that are to be probed by local police and this workload would reduce the efficiency of CBI, the court said.
Recommending for setting up a high-powered committee, the high court said the Supreme Court has upheld the validity of setting up such a committee through its various judgments. The committee should look at complaints regarding improper probe by local police and crime branch and should consider whether the investigation in question was efficient, whether there was any external intervention in the probe, and whether there has been any attempts to delay or derail the investigation, the order of the high court said.