The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the issue of non-existent CCTV cameras in police stations across the country. The court has expressed its dissatisfaction, specifically referencing a news report highlighting the situation in Rajasthan, where CCTV cameras are non-functional, and incidents of deaths in police custody have been reported. The report indicates that approximately 11 people have died in police custody in Rajasthan within the last eight months of this year. Following the hearing, the court has reserved its judgment and will deliver its decision on September 26th.
The bench, consisting of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, emphasized that the core issue is not simply the installation of cameras, but the continuous monitoring and operation. The court raised concerns about potential manipulation, even after compliance, by authorities. The court is exploring the possibility of creating a system involving IIT to monitor CCTV footage to ensure unbiased oversight of police station activities. The court had earlier issued directives in 2018 and 2020 for the implementation of CCTV cameras to prevent human rights violations.