Former IPS officer Meeran Chadha Borwankar emphasized the importance of police officers remaining loyal to the Constitution rather than to political leaders, underscoring the foundational role of the Constitution in governance. She made these remarks while receiving the Anant Bhalerao Memorial Award on Sunday. Highlighting the challenges faced by the police and judiciary in India, Borwankar pointed out that systemic issues like personnel shortages and overwork significantly impact the effectiveness of these institutions. She noted that while the ideal number of police officers per lakh population should be 220, India only has 153. Additionally, police personnel often endure 11-hour workdays without weekly offs, which, she argued, compromises their ability to deliver optimal results in crime detection.
Borwankar also drew attention to the deficiencies in the judicial system, stating that India has only 21 judges per 10 lakh people compared to the recommended 50. Expressing concern over the rising corruption within the police force, she lamented that while corruption was once limited to a few officers, it has now become widespread. Her criticism extended to encounter killings as well, referencing the Badlapur incident where the prime accused in a sexual abuse case was killed in police firing. She firmly stated that such actions are not a sustainable solution to crime.
As a gesture of her commitment to institutional improvement, Borwankar donated her Rs 50,000 cash award to the Police Foundation of India. With a distinguished career that included senior positions in the Maharashtra Police Force and the Central Bureau of Investigation, Borwankar retired as Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development and the National Crime Records Bureau. Her remarks underscored the urgent need for reforms in law enforcement and judiciary to strengthen their alignment with constitutional principles.
