The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the Centre and the states should provide exact information on the installation of CCTV cameras in police stations, as the matter involves the fundamental rights of the citizens under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Two years after the Supreme Court directed installation of CCTVs in police stations across the country, a three-judge bench on Wednesday directed Chief Secretary of each State and Union Territory to inform the exact position and to respond on the following points before 24 November, 2020;

1.     What exactly is the position with respect to CCTV cameras fitted in each and every Police Station in the State or Union Territory, and,

2.     What is the position qua constitution of Oversight Committees in accordance with our order dated April 3, 2018.

Reviving of this case is due to an incident involving alleged illegal detention and custodial torture by the police in the Police Station Sujanpur of District Pathankot, Punjab. The Court directed that with a view to check human rights abuse, CCTV cameras be installed in all police stations as well as in prisons. Justice Nariman appointed senior advocate Siddharth Dave as amicus curiae and sought a report on steps needed to check such violations.

The Court, in its April 2018 order, had approved the ‘Centrally Driven Plan of Action’ suggested by a Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs to strengthen the rule of law. This talked about audio-video recording of statement given by accused to police under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and videography of crime scene. Additionally, the Court directed, “With a view to check human rights abuse, CCTV cameras be installed in all police stations as well as in prisons.” The order further required every state to have an independent oversight committee that would study the CCTV camera footage and periodically publish reports of its observations.

‘We call upon all the States and Union Territories in order to find out the exact position qua each Police Station… we expect the Chief Secretary of the States and Union Territories to take this matter seriously and in right earnest, since it involves the fundamental rights of the citizen under Article 21 of the Constitution of India’ the Court observed in its order and posted the matter for hearing on November 24.

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