Editorial Board Contents - Bureau of Police Research and ...

etween the states and the centre suffered fromserious stress and strain.I recall with a supreme sense of satisfaction howthe Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayeerecognised and appreciated the dire need foraugmenting the grant of funds, on a long termbasis, for the modernisation of the Police Forcesin the country, after his interactive sessionwith a select group of DGs during the annualconference in 2000. Since then, the Policehas not experienced any paucity of funds andits modernisation has continued apace withsincerity and seriousness. The entire creditfor this phenomenal change in the fundingand modernisation of the Police forces, bothat the centre and the states, goes to Shri AtalBehari Vajpayee who set up a Committee,comprising DG, Rajasthan, DG, BPR&D and theDIB, besides the Cabinet Secretary, PrincipalSecretary and the Home Secretary, and onits recommendations, funds got immediatelysanctioned by the MHA. Another feather in thecap of the DGs conference, was its success toprevail over the Finance Commission of thetime, to treat certain aspects of Policing as partof the Plan Budget. This has added to the coffersof the Police administration across the country.Earlier, the “Tenure Rules(1988)”, which werenot considered attractive enough to inspire theyoung IPS officers to pursue Intelligence as acareer, were taken up by me for modification,immediately after assuming charge of the officeof the DIB in 1998. The leadership modified thetenure rules, emphasizing categorically that thecareer prospects in the lB should be dealt withon a footing separate from that of the CPOs.It, however, ran into difficulties because of thereservations recorded by the MHA on some ofthe important recommendations that put the lBon a footing, separate from that of the CPOs.When the file with changes made by the MHA,reached the PMO, the DIB had to seek the kindpersonal intervention of the Prime Minister whoimmediately asked the PMO to reexamine thefile in consultation with the DIB and put up forclearance. The PMO appreciated the specialmodifications made by the lB in the TenureRules, and put its stamp of approval, perhaps inApril 2000, on important recommendations likethe ‘in situ’ promotions for senior officers fromthe rank of Deputy Director to Special Directorafter completion of the required numbers ofyears of service, repatriation of officers on theground of unsatisfactory performance, releaseof the lB officers on promotion to their cadres,in case of promotion not forthcoming in thelB, consideration of Special Directors of lB forthe posts of DG, in organisations dealing withSecurity and Intelligence etc. Later, a strong casemade by the lB before the Kargil Sub Committeeon Intelligence for more foreign assignments forthe lB Officers than the existing few, was alsoagreed. Thus, the career prospects of the officersjoining the IB, stand vastly improved today thanbefore.Personally, I remain most indebted to theIntelligence Bureau which enabled me to havea life time experience of working with the PrimeMinister on a day to-day basis, who adhered tonorms of professional ethics and administrativepropriety.Another great pillar of strength and supportwas the Union Home Minister who wouldring up personally to keep abreast of the latestdevelopments. This required the DIB to tryand remain on toes all the time. It was entirelyhis vision to open a dialogue between theParliamentarians and the Intelligence Agencies ina proper forum for better appreciation of complexissues affecting the security and integrity of thecountry. It generated stupendous confidence andcourage of conviction among the IB officers. Italso helped in adding to the image of the IB.The Home Minister encouraged free and frankexchange of views, even if it meant statingsomething unpalatable for the ruling party.I feel most honoured to have led the Organisationfor three years and more. I remain deeply andprofoundly grateful to late Shri S.M. Mathur,DIB, who took personal interest to prevail overlate Jyoti Basu, the then Chief Minister of WestBengal, for my early release from the state, ondeputation to the IB. I was most fortunate tohave got trained and worked for years underesteemed senior Shri M.K. Narayanan and otherDIBs like S/Shri T.V. Rajeshwar, R.K. Kapoor,H.A. Barari and V.G. Vaidya. I also remaingrateful to a battery of professionals, both inHeadquarters and outstations, known for theirThe Indian Police Journal, October - December, 2012, Special Issue 41