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News Topical, Digital Desk : The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu cognizance of the matter after a newspaper report exposed the lack of CCTV cameras in police stations across the country. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took cognizance of the matter. They said that in the year 2025, 11 deaths have been recorded in police custody in Rajasthan alone in the last 7-8 months. Due to this, the apex court has taken immediate cognizance of the issue.
Supreme Court order of 2020
Earlier, in a significant decision in 2020, the Supreme Court had ordered the installation of CCTV cameras with night vision and audio recording facilities in all police stations across the country. The decision directed the state and union territory governments to ensure functional CCTV coverage in all important places in police premises, such as lock-ups and interrogation rooms. The court had also said that the footage should be preserved for at least 18 months and made available during investigations related to custodial violence or deaths.
non-compliance despite orders
Despite these clear instructions, many police stations still do not have working CCTV cameras, or the footage disappears. This often hinders investigations and prevents accountability. Police departments often cite technical glitches or unavailability of footage in cases of custodial violence. This suo motu action by the Supreme Court shows that compliance with these orders is still woefully lacking.
Right to call for CCTV footage
The court also highlighted the role of state and central monitoring committees to ensure the procurement, installation and maintenance of CCTV systems. The court also directed that in cases of serious injuries or custodial deaths, the victims or their families can approach human rights commissions or courts, which have the power to seek CCTV footage for investigation and evidence.
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