Cameras should be installed at every police station within a month: Supreme Court

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court has directed the state to implement within a month the order it issued two years ago that cameras should be installed at every police station in the state. The apex court issued the order two years ago to prevent violence against people, including custodial torture. The court, which said that it will take action against the Chief Secretary if the order is not implemented, added that a system should be set up to store the footage and audio for one and a half years.

In December 2020, the bench headed by Justice RF Nariman ordered that all police stations should be under camera surveillance. Following this, a contract was awarded to Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), a central public sector firm, to set up camera surveillance at all 520 stations within four months for Rs 46 crores. Work has been completed in more than half of the stations.

Camera footage and audio will be key evidence against the police in custodial torture cases. Although the home department had issued an order to give Rs 41.6 crore from the plan fund, only Rs 11.89 crore was sanctioned in 2021-22 and Rs 4.8 crore in 22-23. The central share of 40% was not delivered on time.

CCTV cameras should be installed at the entrance of the stations, exits, reception, lock-ups, corridors, inspector's and sub-inspectors' rooms, the exterior of the lock-up, station hall, station premises, duty officer's room and rooms where the accused are kept. The Supreme Court had ordered that if there is a violation of human rights, the victim can request the footage of the interrogation and that the footage can be accepted as evidence by the Human Rights Commission.