New Delhi, Sept. 17 -- "You are the pioneers in the Indian Service and the future of the Service will depend much upon the foundations and traditions that will be laid down by you, by your character and abilities and by your spirit of service..." - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, 'The Bombay Chronicle', April 21, 1947
With a tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's saying, 'Niyogi Books' proudly announces the arrival of their latest publication, 'Beyond the Uniform - Duty, Discretion and Public Trust: Citizen-Friendly and Responsive Policing' by retired Indian Police Service officer of the Arunachal, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre, O P Mishra. Published under the imprint 'Paper Missile', the book looks at policing as a service delivery organisation and examines areas where there is a trust deficit between the citizen and the police and suggests measures to bridge the gap between the two.
The book was formally launched on September 16, 2026, at Seminar Halls I, II & III, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Centre, New Delhi, at 6 pm. Chief Guest Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant launched the book in the presence of Guests of Honour, Neeraj Kumar IPS (Retd.), former Commissioner of Police, New Delhi and Sanjaya Baru, former Media Advisor to the Prime Minister.
Sanjaya Baru observed that with the growing influence of social media, the police have increasingly come under public scrutiny, making controversies involving the force more visible than ever before. He noted that, at this crucial juncture, a book examining policing is especially relevant and deserves wider attention for its potential to help rebuild public trust in the police. He also highlighted the need for greater administrative reforms and drew attention to India's low police-to-population ratio, which continues to affect citizens' access to police services.
Neeraj Kumar emphasised that the police must consistently meet public expectations at every point of interaction, ensuring that citizens feel respected and their experiences inspire confidence in the institution. He noted that effective police leadership lies in identifying these points of public contact and strengthening professionalism at every supervisory level. He further highlighted the importance of carefully examining charge sheets and other legal documents, while appreciating the book for offering practical solutions drawn from O P Mishra's own experience in policing.
Delivering the keynote address, CJI Justice Surya Kant remarked that 'Beyond the Uniform' brings together the themes of duty, discretion, law, leadership and police reform, placing public trust at the heart of the conversation. He observed that the responsibilities of the police begin long before a crisis arises, requiring constant preparedness and an institutional framework capable of responding effectively whenever citizens need assistance. Stressing the importance of responsible discretion in the exercise of police powers, he noted that effective first-level supervision remains fundamental to the delivery of justice.
When asked to comment on his book, O P Mishra said, "In democracy, various organs of the government are actually service providers. These organisations facilitate the delivery of various kinds of services to citizens as mandated by the Indian Constitution. The overall performance and evaluation of these organisations is based on the quality of services delivered to the citizens. The police are an important and critical service provider that delivers exclusive services to citizens in day-to-day policing. Despite serving on the street 24/7, the police don't enjoy the trust and confidence they deserve from the common man. This has always troubled me in my 36-year policing career. The book looks at this broader question of the trust deficit between police and the public. It identifies concrete areas of day-to-day operational policing processes where this deficit exists and suggests measures to bridge the gap between the police and the public."
'Beyond the Uniform' is an examination of Indian policing - its colonial inheritances, structural distortions and the need for reform. Drawing upon constitutional principles, key interventions of the Supreme Court of India and over three decades of service, author O P Mishra identifies systemic gaps that hinder humane service delivery and accountability and erode public faith in the system: delays in registering FIRs, unnecessary arrests, custodial violence, corruption at the thana level and political interference in postings and investigations.
Yet this book isn't merely a critique. It is also a blueprint for change. By looking at recent legal reforms such as the 'Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita', the growing role of forensic science and technology-driven investigations, the book argues for a policing culture grounded in professionalism, transparency and empathy.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.