New Delhi, Sept 4: The Supreme Court on Thursday initiated suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) after a newspaper report revealed the absence of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across India. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta cited alarming figures, including 11 custodial deaths reported in Rajasthan in the past eight months, to justify urgent intervention.
The apex court had in 2020 directed all states and Union Territories to install CCTV cameras with night vision and audio at police stations, particularly in lock-ups and interrogation rooms, with footage preserved for 18 months. However, non-compliance remains widespread, with missing or non-functional cameras often hampering investigations into custodial torture and deaths.
Observing that frequent excuses like “technical issues” obstruct accountability, the bench stressed strict enforcement. It reiterated that victims or their families can approach human rights commissions or courts to access CCTV footage in cases of custodial violence.
The court also reminded State and Central oversight committees of their responsibility to procure, install, and maintain functional surveillance systems.
By registering the suo motu PIL, the Supreme Court aims to compel state governments to plug compliance gaps and submit action plans without delay. The move underscores the judiciary’s deepening concern over custodial violence and highlights CCTV surveillance as a vital tool for transparency and accountability in policing.
