Bihar IPS officer in trouble for 'Jehangir bell'

Patna, March 28
A senior police officer in Bihar is in trouble for installing a "Jehangiri ghanta" or Jehangir's bell" at his official residence in Darbhanga district when he was posted there last year.

Arvind Pandey, a Bihar cadre IPS officer of the 1988 batch, had installed the electronic push-button bell at his official residence in Darbhanga, about 200 km from here, in January 2014 when he was posted there as Inspector General of police.

Taking Pandey to task for his move to replicate a Mughal era practice of dispensing instant justice, the Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) has described this as a "reflection of a colonial mindset".

The commission chairperson, Justice Bilal Nazki (retd) "has ordered the issuance of a show cause notice to Pandey", an official of the commission said, adding that it had been pointed out to Pandey that the allusion to the Mughal-era practice was out of sync with the reality.

"The world and India had changed since 17th century," the BHRC said.

The commission has directed Pandey to file within three weeks his response as to why this act of his should not be treated as violation of human rights of citizens of a civilised and democratic society.

Meanwhile, Pandey said he will submit his reply to the commission within the stipulated time.

Last year, Pandey came out with the idea that was a hit during Jehangir's time for delivery of instant justice to aggrieved people.