Question : CIVILIAN COUNSELORS

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to nominate civilian counselors for redressel of grievances of citizens without going into the drill of filing FIRs;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the final decision is likely to be taken in this regard;

(c) whether there is any proposal to set up Community Counseling Center in each police station in the country as a first stop for interface with aggrieved citizens; and

(d) if so, the time by which this scheme is likely to be implemented in country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) to (d): As per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India “Police” and “Public Order” are State subjects and , as such, the primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crime, lies with the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. The Union Government, however, attaches the highest importance to prevention of crime and therefore, has been advising the State Governments/UT Administrations from time to time to give more attention to the administration of the criminal justice system with emphasis on prevention and control of crime. Ministry of Home Affairs has sent a detailed advisory dated 16th July, 2010 to all State Governments/UT Administrations wherein States/UTs. Have been advised, inter alia, to encourage the community policing initiatives in the area of every Police Station. States/UTs may consider setting up Community Counseling Centers (CCC) at the Police Stations for resolution of conflicts especially affecting women, children and other vulnerable sections of the society. It was inter alia suggested that assistance of eminent personalities of the area, NGO and other Government agencies may be taken to sustain the CCCs, and that personal counseling must be provided to resolve family disputes.