The findings, revealed through a Right to Information (RTI) filing, raise serious concerns about surveillance
Major government hospitals in the capital, including the sprawling Lok Nayak Hospital, are operating with hundreds of non-functional CCTV cameras, exposing critical security blind spots across crowded premises.
The findings, revealed through a Right to Information (RTI) filing, raise serious concerns about surveillance integrity at a time when safety, particularly for medical staff, remains under intense national scrutiny.
At Lok Nayak Hospital alone, 182 out of 706 installed cameras are not working. Similarly, at the Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), 32 of its 744 cameras are offline. These defunct units cover crucial areas such as wards, corridors, staircases, and entry points.
The security lapses directly contradict directives issued by the Union Health Ministry following the high-profile rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College last year. That case highlighted the severe consequences of inadequate surveillance and missing CCTV footage.
RTI activist Dr Aman Kaushik, who sought the information, described the findings as “deeply troubling” and “alarming.”
“It is a risk not only for doctors but also for patients and visitors,” Dr Kaushik stated. “After the RG Kar case, authorities had recommended more cameras in vulnerable areas. The government must act quickly to repair faulty systems and expand coverage where cameras are still missing.”
Despite the clear evidence of large-scale failures, hospital authorities have insisted the system is “reviewed regularly.”
The RTI also highlighted a sharp divergence in security maintenance across the city’s premier medical institutions. While Lok Nayak and LHMC struggle with non-compliance, the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital reported that all 574 of its cameras are fully operational.
Security experts have warned that the failure to maintain basic surveillance systems amounts to negligence, given the constant high footfall, sensitive areas, and safety concerns inherent in large government facilities. The stark divide in compliance leaves staff and patients at institutions like Lok Nayak exposed to avoidable risks, contrasting sharply with the full security coverage achieved by RML.
