Supreme Court asks Union home secretary to appear over CCTV implementation

The Supreme Court has asked the Union home secretary to appear before it to assist in implementing CCTV installation in police stations. The court expressed concern over delays, funding issues, and compliance, while reviewing progress and past directives on surveillance infrastructure

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Union home secretary to remain present before it on Tuesday so that appropriate assistance could be drawn from him in the implementation of the scheme for installation of CCTVs in police stations.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta on Monday passed the order while hearing a suo motu case over the lack of functional CCTVs in police stations.

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During the hearing, the bench asked the counsel appearing for the Centre about a recent media report on the removal of CCTV cameras made by a Chinese firm, which are installed at several places citing security issues.

Referring to the report, Justice Mehta said the Centre itself has given instructions to take down the cameras taken from a neighbouring country because they are capturing data and sending it there.

“Now, the government has issued instructions to remove particular cameras,” the bench observed.

Additional Solicitor General Raja Thakare, appearing for the Centre, said no formal order has yet been passed in this regard.

Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, who is assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in the matter, told the bench that most of the states have installed CCTVs and are in the process of setting up centralised dashboards.

When Dave said that Kerala has the best set-up, Justice Nath said, “If you say that Kerala has the best set-up, why cannot it be followed by other states?” The bench said this should be discussed by the authorities.

Thakare said 60 per cent funding is by the Centre.

The bench was informed that an under secretary-level officer had attended the meeting which was held to deliberate upon the feasibility, modalities and implementation framework of the issues flagged in the orders passed by the apex court earlier.

The bench expressed its dissatisfaction and told Thakare, “We are passing orders and you are sending an under secretary-level officer to attend the meeting?” The law officer assured the court that a high-level official would attend the meeting.

“Let this matter come up tomorrow again. The home secretary, Union of India, to remain present before this court so that appropriate assistance can be drawn from him in the implementation of the scheme that is being monitored by this court,” the bench said.

On February 26, the apex court directed the Centre and others to participate in a meeting to deliberate upon the feasibility, modalities and implementation framework of the issues, including the creation of a centralised dashboard and standardisation of CCTV infrastructure in police stations.

The top court had earlier directed the registration of a suo motu case over the lack of functional CCTVs in police stations after taking cognisance of a media report.

The apex court had in 2018 ordered the installation of CCTV cameras across police stations to check human rights abuses.

In December 2020, the top court directed the Centre to install CCTV cameras and recording equipment at the offices of investigating agencies, including the CBI, the ED and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

It said that states and Union Territories should ensure that CCTV cameras were installed at every police station, at all entry and exit points, the main gate, lock-ups, corridors, lobby and reception, as well as in areas outside the lock-up rooms so that no part was left uncovered.

The top court said that CCTV systems must be equipped with night vision and have audio as well as video footage.

The court made it mandatory for the Centre, states, and UTs to purchase such systems which allow storage of data for at least one year.