A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said on Wednesday it was initiating proceedings titled Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations, taking suo motu cognisance of recent reports
India’s Supreme Court has launched a public interest case on the failure to install CCTV cameras in police stations, following reports of 11 custodial deaths in the past eight months.
A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said on Wednesday it was initiating proceedings titled Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations, taking suo motu cognisance of recent reports.
The move revives concerns first raised in 2020, when the court ordered the centre, states and union territories to equip all police stations and investigating agencies with CCTV systems, including night vision and audio recording. That directive also applied to federal agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and National Investigation Agency (NIA).
At the time, the bench led by then justice RF Nariman had stressed that footage must be stored for up to 18 months, with station house officers responsible for maintenance and proper functioning. Oversight committees at state and district levels were also mandated, while authorities were told to ensure electricity and internet access, including through solar or wind power where necessary.
The 2020 ruling followed a case of custodial torture in Punjab and was aimed at curbing police excesses. It also directed that in cases of custodial death or serious injury, victims or families could approach state human rights commissions and special human rights courts, which states are obliged to establish under the Human Rights Act.
Despite these directions, implementation has lagged. The latest suo motu action reflects growing concern over accountability in police custody, with the court underscoring the urgent need for functional surveillance systems across the country.
