The Supreme Court is addressing the critical issues of CCTV camera implementation and custodial deaths in police stations nationwide. The court expressed its concern over the failure to install and maintain CCTV cameras, taking suo motu cognizance of the matter. The court’s action follows a report highlighting the situation in Rajasthan, where CCTV cameras are often non-functional, and there have been approximately 11 deaths in police custody in the last eight months. The Supreme Court has reserved its decision, with the verdict scheduled for September 26th.
Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta highlighted the importance of not only installing cameras but also ensuring proper monitoring. They questioned what would happen if police officers disabled or diverted the cameras. The court stressed that this case is not merely about technical compliance, but about upholding transparency and protecting citizens’ rights within police custody. The court has previously issued directives in 2018 and 2020 to ensure comprehensive CCTV coverage in police stations, including entry and exit gates, main gates, lockups, corridors, lobbies, and areas outside lockups.