By Amrit Pal Sidhu #Babushahi Network
Jalandhar: 11 September 2026
Waiting indefinitely for action on a police complaint could soon become a thing of the past in Punjab. The Punjab Police is preparing a major revamp of its public grievance redressal mechanism, with time-bound disposal, transparent complaint tracking and greater accountability of officers emerging as key priorities.
The proposed changes are aimed at plugging gaps in the existing system and ensuring that citizens who approach the police with genuine grievances are not left wondering where their complaint has reached, who is examining it and when action can be expected.
The issue came under detailed scrutiny during a high-level meeting chaired by the Special DGP, Public Grievances, Punjab Division, Chandigarh, with senior police officers. The meeting examined ground-level difficulties in handling public complaints and discussed measures to make the system faster, more transparent and responsive.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, the Special DGP said continuous efforts were being made to strengthen and streamline the grievance redressal mechanism across Punjab. Successful models and best practices followed by other states are also being studied before finalising improvements to the existing system.
Complaint tracking at the heart of proposed reforms
At the centre of the proposed overhaul is a system designed to keep complainants informed about the progress of their complaints at every stage.
Instead of repeatedly approaching police stations or senior officers to find out what happened to a complaint, citizens could be provided timely information about its status and the level at which it is being examined.
The move could significantly improve transparency in a system where uncertainty over the fate of a complaint can often become a grievance in itself.
Deadlines may put police stations under greater scrutiny
A defined time limit for disposal of complaints is also expected to be fixed by the senior authorities.
A detailed review of complaints pending under the grievance redressal mechanism has already been undertaken, with directions for necessary action towards their early disposal.
The proposed deadlines, once finalised, could bring a new element of accountability into the system by making delays easier to identify and monitor.
Officers told: Go beyond the files
In another significant push, police officers have been directed to personally visit the ground and make dedicated efforts to resolve public grievances.
The emphasis is on ensuring that complaints are not dealt with merely as files moving between offices, but are properly examined wherever field verification and direct intervention are required.
Such direct engagement, according to police authorities, will help strengthen public confidence and improve the relationship between citizens and the police.
Women to get dedicated support
Special attention is also being given to grievances raised by women.
The deployment of “Mahila Mitra” women constables at Saanjh Kendras is intended to provide women complainants with a more sensitive and accessible interface with the police and enable them to communicate their concerns more comfortably.
Senior authorities to take final call
The suggestions and proposed reforms discussed during the review will now be placed before senior authorities for consideration. Implementation of the measures will follow the directions of the competent authorities.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner of Police, ADCP (Operations & Security) and other senior police officers.
The proposed overhaul signals a shift towards a grievance system in which registration of a complaint is only the beginning—not the end—of police responsibility.
If implemented in its proposed form, the new mechanism could give citizens something they have long sought while dealing with the police: a clear status of their complaint, a defined timeframe for action and greater accountability for delays.