After much dilly-dallying, the state has finally approved police reforms as per Supreme Court’s directives in the “Prakash Singh & others versus Union of India” case. In 2006, the SC had directed state governments to initiate police reforms. Maharashtra delayed compliance to the order, even as other states accepted it much earlier.

The state cabinet, in a meeting on January 15, was, in fact, reluctant to approve the reforms. Ministers expressed strong reservations, as the reforms mean shifting of powers from Mantralaya to the state police headquarters. For the political class it was difficult to digest, since the police obeyed their orders in lieu of good postings, transfers and promotions. In return, politicians used the police force to further their own political interests.