New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognizance of the glaring lack of CCTV cameras in police stations across the country, expressing deep concern over the risks posed to accountability, transparency, and the protection of fundamental rights. The court’s intervention comes after media reports revealed that many stations particularly those handling interrogations and custodial matters remain without video surveillance, despite earlier judicial directives.
The development marks a revival of the apex court’s orders issued in December 2020 in the Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh case, where it had mandated CCTV installation in all police stations and investigative agency offices. The order was not limited to cameras alone it required proper storage, monitoring, and oversight mechanisms to ensure the footage could serve as reliable evidence against custodial violence or misconduct. State and district-level oversight committees were to be formed, with compliance reports to be filed promptly. However, nearly five years later, the court noted that implementation has been patchy at best.
The absence of CCTV coverage, the bench observed, leaves citizens vulnerable to abuse and erodes confidence in law enforcement. Several states and the Union Government are yet to submit concrete compliance reports, while others have cited budgetary and technical hurdles. For the judiciary, these explanations no longer suffice especially in the wake of repeated incidents of custodial deaths and allegations of torture. The court stressed that surveillance is not a luxury but a necessity in ensuring justice within the criminal justice system.
By stepping in on its own accord, the Supreme Court has once again exercised its suo motu powers under Articles 32 and 142 of the Constitution. These powers enable the court to safeguard fundamental rights when executive inaction threatens them. In recent years, the apex court has increasingly used this tool to address issues of national importance from environmental degradation to custodial violence. The present case fits squarely within that framework, as it directly touches on citizens’ rights against arbitrary state action.
The bench is expected to demand detailed reports from the Centre and all state governments. These will include updates on:
• The number of police stations equipped with functional CCTV cameras.
• The status of storage and backup facilities for recorded footage.
• Formation of independent oversight committees to review camera functionality and data preservation.
• Concrete timelines and budgets for achieving universal compliance.
Legal experts note that proper surveillance systems could act as both deterrent and safeguard deterring custodial abuse while preserving evidence that could either exonerate or indict law enforcement personnel. Without CCTV coverage, both the public and the police lose a crucial tool for ensuring accountability. The court’s fresh intervention, therefore, underscores the urgent need for systemic reform.
As the case unfolds, the coming weeks will determine whether the directives that have long remained on paper will finally translate into action. For the Supreme Court, the message is clear: protecting fundamental rights must remain at the heart of India’s justice system, and technology like CCTV surveillance is indispensable in achieving that goal.