The Prakash Singh Committee traces back to a Public Interest Litigation filed in the Supreme Court of India in 1996 by Prakash Singh, a former Director General of Police of Assam and Uttar Pradesh, seeking reform of a colonial-era police system still governed by the Police Act of 1861. The case culminated in a landmark 2006 Supreme Court judgment laying down seven directives aimed at insulating the police from political interference and improving accountability, professionalism and public trust across central and state police forces.
This article explains the background and core objectives behind the Prakash Singh case, breaks down the seven Supreme Court directives — from the State Security Commission and DGP tenure security to the Police Complaints Authority and National Security Commission — and examines the constitutional significance, implementation challenges and common criticisms of the reforms. Useful for Indian Polity students, UPSC and state civil services aspirants, and anyone following governance and judicial activism in India.
Author: Darshita Neeraj
Senior Researcher,
Mudita Learning and Knowledge Private Limited
Email: info@muditabooks.com
Date of post: 21.08.2026
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