CCTVs in police stations: Are we supposed to run the State administration? Bombay High Court to Maharashtra govt

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday expressed its dissatisfaction on the affidavit submitted by the Maharashtra government on the status of CCTVs in police stations across the State [Somnath Laxman Giri and Anr. v. State of Maharashtra and Anr]..The Bench of Justice SJ Kathawalla and Milind Jadhav had a sought for a report setting out the data regarding functional as well as non-functional CCTVs at all police stations in the State, in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court on installation of CCTVs at police stations. .When the report was tendered today, the Bench was dissatisfied as the affidavit was devoid of the relevant particulars sought by the Court in view of the repeated excuses by police officials that CCTVs are not working."We see that an action has been taken after Court passed the order. Are we supposed to run the administration, spoon feed them? Whatever we have stated (in order) has been reproduced in the ‘paripatrak’ (directions issued) by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)", Justice Jadhav remarked."Common man goes to the police station everyday...thinking that the Supreme Court guidelines are being followed. And we do not know what is happening to the ₹60 crore allocated by the State for CCTV installation project", Justice Kathawalla chimed in..The affidavit by the government stated that there are 1,089 police stations in the State. So far 6,092 cameras had been installed in 547 police stations. Of the total cameras, 5,639 cameras were functional and 453 were non-functional, the Bench noted. .The Bench also reprimanded the State for not producing the report by the ADGP of the Planning and Co-ordination Committee. Counsel for the State pointed out that the report contained what the department has done so far and based on this report, the affidavit had been filed. It was also candidly pointed out that the report was prepared after the Court's order."It therefore appears that the Planning and Co-ordination department only functions after Court passes order," Justice Kathawalla quipped..Justice Jadhav also mused as to how the State had approximately spent about ₹6 lakh per police station for installing CCTVs cameras. "I have got CCTVs in my house, but I have not spent more than ₹35,000 for that." he said.With this expense, the Bench noted that the recording period was not as much as was stated in the Supreme Court order. "They don’t want it to be recorded. They don't want to show to any courts or authority what is happening in police stations. This is all a farce, and they do not want the courts to know. ₹60 crore wasted," Justice Kathawalla said in conclusion. .The Court posted the matter for hearing on Monday in order to enable Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to appear in order to provide "active assistance" to the Court.