Supreme Court Initiates Action Over Non-Functional Police Station CCTVs
Supreme Court Initiates Action Over Non-Functional Police Station CCTVs
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of the widespread issue of non-functional CCTV cameras in police stations nationwide. The court's decision, announced on Thursday, follows a media report that highlighted the deaths of 11 individuals in police custody in Rajasthan within the first eight months of 2025.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted that in cases of custodial deaths, police frequently fail to provide CCTV footage. The report also pointed out that many remand rooms and other critical areas within police stations are not covered by cameras. When footage is requested, police have given various reasons for its absence or delay, including technical glitches, insufficient storage, and ongoing investigations. In some instances, the footage was simply withheld or its release was intentionally delayed.
This move by the Supreme Court reinforces its earlier directives mandating the installation of CCTVs in all police stations to ensure transparency and prevent custodial torture. The court had previously issued a series of instructions for a central oversight body and state-level committees to manage and review CCTV footage for human rights violations.
The Supreme Court's previous orders also stipulated that the Station House Officer (SHO) of each police station is responsible for maintaining the CCTV data, backing up recordings, and promptly addressing any faults. The court had emphasized that every part of a police station must be covered and that footage should be stored for at least 18 months.
In April 2023, the top court had given a "last chance" to the Centre and all states and Union Territories to comply with the directive to install CCTVs within a three-month period. Despite these repeated mandates, the recent events in Rajasthan have prompted the court to take direct action on the matter.
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