Possibility of switching off CCTV cameras in police stations; Supreme Court puts forward new directive

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has pointed out the possibility of switching off CCTV cameras in police stations across the country. The Supreme Court observed that automatic control rooms are preferable for operating CCTVs. The court also stated that it is considering ordering the opening of control rooms without the presence of police personnel.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta pointed out that there is a possibility that the officers themselves can turn off the CCTV cameras in police stations. The Supreme Court then directed that 'a control room in which there is no human intervention' is required for the operation of CCTVs. "Even monitoring should not be human," the court added.

Upon hearing Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, Justice Mehta said that the issue is of oversight. "Today there may be compliance affidavit, tomorrow officers may switch off cameras...we were thinking of a control room in which there is no human intervention...any camera goes off, there is a flag...there has to be inspection of police station also by independent agency...we can think of involving IIT to provide mechanism so that CCTV footage is monitored without human intervention."

The Supreme Court was considering a suo motu case regarding custodial deaths in police stations.