New Delhi, Mar 11 (IANS): The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to the union home secretary, chief secretaries, home secretaries and directors general of police (DGPs) of all states and administrators and police commissioners of union territories, asking them about steps taken by them in pursuance of its directions to effect reforms in the functioning of the police in the country.

The apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Kurien Joseph also asked the DGP of Punjab to file an affidavit detailing the action taken against police officials for beating a woman in Tarn Taran near Amritsar March 3.

The court also sought details of the responsibility fixed on senior police officers in the matter.

The DGP has been given a week's time to file his affidavit.

The court has also sought an affidavit from the senior superintendent of police Tarn Taran, in the public beating of the woman. The incident was captured on camera and seen on TV by the entire country.

The court has also asked the DGP Bihar and police commissioner Patna to explain the rationale for beating women teachers participating in protests seeking hike in their pay, which has remained unchanged for years.

The court has also sought the report of the Patna police commissioner, wherein he has justified police action against agitating teachers.

Fixing the next date of hearing on April 1, the court wondered what had happened to the sensibility of the people who witnessed the beating of the Dalit woman in Tarn Taran, but remained mute spectators.

The Supreme Court had last week taken suo motu cognisance of the beating by policemen of the Dalit woman in Tarn Taran, Punjab, and of women teachers agitating for higher salary in Bihar.