Installation Of CCTVs In Police Stations: SC Grants 3 Months’ Time To Centre, States & UTs To Comply With Its Directions

The Supreme Court has granted three months’ time to the Centre, States, and Union Territories to comply with its directions with regard to the installation of CCTV cameras in Police Stations and offices of agencies under the Union of India.

The two-Judge Bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Vikram Nath said, “In any case, we are not inclined to take a stricter action at this stage. However, we grant three months’ time, by way of last chance, to the Union of India and all the State Governments/Union Territories to comply with the directions issued by this Court. … All the State Governments/Union Territories and Union of India are directed to file their respective affidavits prior to 18.07.2023 stating therein that the compliance, in effect, has been made.”

The Bench has further directed that the Chief Secretary/Administrator of such of the State Government/Union Territory, who fails to comply with the directions and not file the required affidavit prior to July 18, 2023, shall personally remain present in the Court on the next date of hearing, to show cause as to why an action for committing contempt should not be taken against them.

Advocate Ganesh Khanna represented the petitioner while Advocates Nikunj Dayal, Mukesh Kumar Maroria, and Nidhi Khanna represented the respondents.

In this case, Amicus Curiae Siddhartha Dave had earlier submitted a report stating that many of the agencies under the Union of India and various State Governments have not complied with the directions for the installation of CCTV cameras in the police stations and the offices of agencies under the UOI. The Apex Court had therefore warned of necessary actions against the Centre, States, and UTs in case they fail to comply with its directions.

The Apex Court via its order dated February 21, 2023, had directed to submit the affidavit on or before March 29, 2023. The said amicus curiae filed a report and gave details about the affidavits filed by the UOI, States, and UTs and the same has revealed that two UTs i.e., Andaman and Nicobar, and Ladakh as well as the States of Mizoram and Goa have fully complied with the directions issued by the Court i.e., making budgetary allocations as well as actual installation of the CCTV cameras.

The Supreme Court in the above regard noted, “… insofar as Union of India and other 26 State Governments/Union Territories are concerned, the Report would show that either there is non-compliance with both the aspects or non-compliance with one of them. … In so far as States of Kerala, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu and Union Territory of Lakshadweep are concerned, they have not even filed the affidavits pointing out the present status.”

AAG Manish Singhvi submitted before the Court that out of 892 police stations, CCTVs have been installed in 888 police stations in Rajasthan State and that in Sikkim, CCTVs have been installed in all 34 police stations.

“Insofar as state of Telangana is concerned, it is stated that there is change in counsel and as such the orders could not be complied with. It is stated by the learned counsel appearing for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep that they have also filed the affidavit. … This is not an adversarial litigation. When this Court had issued directions, in order to maintain transparency at the police station and the officers of the investigating agencies, the Union of India and the State Governments/Union Territories ought to have complied with the said directions”, asserted the Court.

The Court observed that it is disheartening that insofar as the Union of India is concerned, out of seven investigating agencies no steps of sincere nature have been taken in the case of four investigating agencies.

“In case the Union of India does not comply with the aforesaid directions and does not file an affidavit, as aforesaid, the Secretary (Home), Union of India, shall remain personally present before the Court on the next date of hearing, to show cause as to why an action for committing contempt should not be taken against them”, directed the Court.

Accordingly, the Court listed the matter for the next hearing on July 25, 2023.

Cause Title- Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh & Ors.

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