Supreme Court to Hear Suo Motu Case on Non-Functional CCTV Cameras in Police Stations on September 26
Apex Court Reviews CCTV Compliance in Police Stations After Reports of Custodial Deaths
New Delhi, Sep 15: The Supreme Court on Monday announced that it will pass its order on September 26 in a suo motu case concerning the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across the country.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted, “The issue is of oversight,” while hearing the matter.
The case was triggered on September 4, when the apex court took suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting 11 deaths in police custody in Rajasthan over the past eight months, seven of which occurred in the Udaipur division alone.
The Supreme Court had earlier, in 2018, directed the installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations to monitor human rights compliance. Further, in December 2020, the court instructed the Centre to ensure CCTV cameras and recording equipment were installed at offices of investigating agencies, including the CBI, ED, and NIA.
The directives mandated that all states and Union Territories install CCTV cameras at every police station covering entry and exit points, main gates, lock-ups, corridors, lobbies, reception areas, and spaces outside lock-up rooms to ensure complete surveillance.
