oppn parties Supreme Court Orders Installation Of CCTVs In Police Stations

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Supreme Court Orders Installation Of CCTVs In Police Stations

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2020-12-03 01:08:34

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

A disclosure in a custodial torture case has led to the discovery that most states have not fully implemented an earlier order of the Supreme Court. The apex court had ordered that all police stations in the country be fitted with CCTV cameras with recording facility at vantage points in 2018. But the compliance status is unclear.

Hence, the Supreme Court has now come out with a detailed order that directs the states to install CCTV cameras with audio facility (and recording for both video and audio) in all police stations and also directs other investigation agencies like the CBI, ED, NIA,  NCB, DRI and the SFIO to do the same.

The cameras will have to be installed at all entry and exit points (including outside washrooms), corridors, lockups, interrogations rooms and the rooms of the inspectors and sub-inspectors, reception and lobbies. The footage captured daily will have to be stored for 18 months and would have to be produced as evidence if needed. Further, an independent panel can examine the footage periodically for human rights violation.

Taking cognizance of the non-compliance of the earlier order, the court gave 6 weeks time to the states to come up with a timeline by which the current order would be implemented. It also asked the states to provide funds for the same. The tone and tenor of the order makes it clear that the court will be stricter this time and is likely ensure that the order is carried out within a reasonable time frame.

This is a landmark order given the fact that abusing and assaulting people in custody is a regular thing in police stations in India. Custodial deaths and rapes inside police stations are not unheard of. The court said that it had taken this step to protect the right to protection of life and personal liberty. The cops force citizens to install CCTVs outside their shops, inside their buildings and in other places like malls, schools and colleges (and rightly so) but when it comes to installing the same in police stations they do not show much inclination.

Hopefully, this time the states will implement the order in full and speedily. There will be huge resistance as exemplary behavior is alien to the police force all over the country. CCTV in inspectors' room will be the last straw as they will have to delete all the cuss words from their colourful vocabulary. In interrogation rooms, they will have to eschew their threatening behavior and assaulting tendencies, which will be very difficult for them. But the states must overcome the hurdles and install the CCTVs to ensure that all accused are treated with dignity inside police stations and by other investigation agencies. 

Picture courtesy: latestlaws.com

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