Supreme Court Orders Centre To Join Talks On Non-Functional CCTV Surveillance

New Delhi, Feb 26: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Union government and other stakeholders to participate in a meeting aimed at creating a centralised dashboard and standardising CCTV infrastructure across police stations.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order following submissions by senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, assisting the court as amicus curiae. Dave informed the bench that a previous meeting held on February 21 did not include representatives from the Union, the Delhi government, and certain states, preventing him from filing the required report.

The court noted the Union counsel’s apology for missing the earlier meeting, attributing it to a communication gap, and assured that full cooperation would be extended in the next session. The bench fixed March 14, 2026, for the next meeting and posted the matter for further hearing on March 23.

The case stems from a suo motu public interest litigation filed over non-functional CCTVs in police stations, after media reports highlighted gaps in surveillance.

The apex court had initially directed in 2018 the installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations to monitor human rights and ensure accountability. In December 2020, it expanded the directive to include offices of investigating agencies such as the CBI, ED, and NIA.

The court mandated that CCTV coverage should extend to all entry and exit points, lock-ups, corridors, lobbies, reception areas, and spaces outside lock-up rooms, with systems equipped for night vision, audio-visual recording, and storage for at least one year. States, Union Territories, and the Centre are required to procure systems that meet these specifications to ensure comprehensive surveillance.