"Taking court too lightly": Supreme Court raps Centre, States for failing to install CCTVs in police stations

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up several States and the Union government for failing to comply with its 2020 judgement mandating installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations [In Re: Lack of functional CCTVs in Police Stations].

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said that custodial deaths were a “blot on the system" and the Union government seemed to be taking the Supreme Court "too lightly" that even a compliance affidavit was not filed as per its earlier orders.

The Court was hearing a suo motu case taken up earlier this year after a newspaper report revealed 11 custodial deaths in Rajasthan in eight months, despite the Court’s directions in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh requiring functional CCTV cameras with night vision across all police stations in the country.

Justice Mehta opened the hearing by referring to the Court’s previous direction that all States and Union Territories must file compliance affidavits.

He noted that many States had failed to respond.

Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, assisting the Court as Amicus Curiae, informed that only 11 States had complied.

Justice Mehta then praised the State of Madhya Pradesh, calling it a model example of compliance.

“Madhya Pradesh’s work is remarkable,” Justice Mehta said.

Dave agreed.

“Yes, Madhya Pradesh is the model State," he said.

The Bench then questioned the silence of other States.

Justice Mehta expressed surprise that Kerala, known for its administrative efficiency, had not filed its report.

“Why is Kerala shying away? It’s such an advanced state,” he remarked.

He then appreciated the State of Madhya Pradesh for fully complying with its directions and being a model state as far as installation of CCTVs in police stations is concerned.

Dave then pointed out that even the Union government had not filed its compliance affidavit.

Justice Nath took strong exception to this, stating that the Centre could not treat the Court’s orders lightly.

“The Union is taking the Court very lightly. Why?” he asked.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, said he would file the necessary affidavit, claiming he was unaware of the pending direction.

But Justice Mehta clarified that the Court wanted more than just paperwork.

“Not affidavit, compliance. There were 11 deaths in police stations in 8 months in Rajasthan. Custodial deaths. This will not be tolerated by the country. It is a blot on the system,” he said.

During the hearing, the Bench also discussed prison reforms. Justice Mehta observed that open-air jails could help reduce overcrowding and aid rehabilitation.

“Open-air jails will solve the problem of overcrowding,” he said.

Justice Nath added that such measures would ease the State’s financial burden as well.

“It will reduce financial burden also,” he said.

The Solicitor General sought three weeks to ensure that all States and Union Territories file their affidavits.

The Court agreed to this.

In its order, the Bench recorded that only 11 States have filed compliance affidavits so far. It granted three more weeks to the remaining States and the Union to file their respective compliance affidavits.

The Court further directed that if compliance was not filed by the next hearing, the Principal Secretaries of the home departments of each State would have to personally appear before the Court and explain non-compliance.

The matter will now be heard on December 16.

The case stems from the Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh, which made it mandatory for all States and Union Territories to install CCTV cameras with night vision and audio recording facilities in every police station and in the offices of central investigation agencies such as the CBI, NIA, ED and NCB.

The Court had also ruled that footage from these cameras must be made available to victims in cases of custodial violence or human rights violations. Despite those clear directions, several States have failed to implement them fully.