Raipur
The Chhattisgarh government has decided to replace Urdu and Persian terms used in police work with simple Hindi words to make the system more citizen-friendly, transparent, and easy to understand. This change aims to help common people better grasp the language used in police documents and procedures.
Examples include replacing words like halafnama with shapath patra (affidavit), dafa with dhara (section), fariyadi with shikayatkarta (complainant), and chasmdid with pratyakshdarshi (eyewitness). On the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who also manages the Home Department, the Director General of Police (DGP) has written to all district Superintendents of Police (SPs) to ensure the use of simpler Hindi in official communication.
The letter included a list of 109 such words and their Hindi alternatives. The aim is to make police language clear and relatable so that citizens can confidently report crimes and understand the legal process without confusion.
Deputy CM Sharma said that since the police's role is to serve the public, their language should also be easy for the public to understand. Officers at every level have been asked to follow this change seriously and not treat it as a formality.
The move is expected to improve trust and communication between the police and the public, making legal processes like FIR registration more accessible to all. The police will now also act as a bridge for better public communication, the statement added.