Supreme Court directs Union Home Secretary to ensure functional CCTVs in police stations; AG promises action in 2 weeks

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu case on non‑functional police‑station CCTVs, directed the Union Home Secretary to ensure compliance and the Attorney General pledged concrete action within two weeks. The judgment underscores judicial activism, the need for a uniform "Kerala model" of live monitoring, and highlights governance challenges relevant to UPSC Polity and Governance topics.

The Supreme Court has taken up a suo motu case concerning the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across India. The bench, comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta , questioned why the successful Kerala model has not been replicated by other states. Key Developments Attorney General R Venkataramani assured the Court that concrete steps will be taken within two weeks to resolve the CCTV deficiencies. The AG will convene meetings with the Amicus Curiae Senior Advocate Sidharth Dave , the Union Home Secretary, and other officials. States such as Kerala, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have already set up live‑monitoring dashboards; others, including Uttar Pradesh , are still developing systems. The Court reiterated its earlier directive (Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh, 2020) that every police station must have a functional CCTV system. Important Facts • The case originated on 4 September 2025 after a Dainik Bhaskar report linked eleven custodial deaths to non‑functional surveillance. • Earlier judgments mandated CCTV installation, but compliance remained patchy, with many cameras either absent or defunct. • The Court has sought answers on audit mechanisms, footage preservation periods, surprise inspections, and forensic tamper‑proofing. UPSC Relevance Understanding this development is crucial for GS 2 (Polity) and GS 3 (Governance). It illustrates judicial activism, the role of the Union Home Secretary in implementing police‑reform policies, and the importance of technology‑driven accountability mechanisms in law‑enforcement agencies. Way Forward All states should adopt a uniform, centrally monitored CCTV dashboard, taking cues from the Kerala model. Regular audits and real‑time alerts must be institutionalised to prevent camera tampering. The Ministry of Home Affairs should issue a detailed implementation framework within the next fortnight, as promised by the AG. Parliamentary committees may be called upon to review compliance and recommend legislative amendments for mandatory surveillance standards.

<p>The <span class="key-term" data-definition="Supreme Court of India — apex judicial body, final interpreter of the Constitution; its judgments shape public policy (GS2: Polity)">Supreme Court</span> has taken up a <span class="key-term" data-definition="suo motu — action taken by a court on its own initiative without a petition; reflects judicial activism (GS2: Polity)">suo motu</span> case concerning the lack of functional <span class="key-term" data-definition="CCTV (Closed‑Circuit Television) — video surveillance system; its mandatory installation in police stations is a governance and human‑rights issue (GS3: Governance)">CCTV</span> cameras in police stations across India. The bench, comprising <strong>Justice Vikram Nath</strong> and <strong>Justice Sandeep Mehta</strong>, questioned why the successful <span class="key-term" data-definition="Kerala model — a state‑level live‑monitoring dashboard for police‑station CCTV feeds, cited as best practice (GS3: Governance)">Kerala model</span> has not been replicated by other states.</p> <h3>Key Developments</h3> <ul> <li>Attorney General <span class="key-term" data-definition="Attorney General of India — chief legal advisor to the Government, represents the Union in the Supreme Court (GS2: Polity)">R Venkataramani</span> assured the Court that concrete steps will be taken within <strong>two weeks</strong> to resolve the CCTV deficiencies.</li> <li>The AG will convene meetings with the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Amicus Curiae — 'friend of the court', an independent expert appointed to assist in complex matters (GS2: Polity)">Amicus Curiae</span> <strong>Senior Advocate Sidharth Dave</strong>, the Union Home Secretary, and other officials.</li> <li>States such as <strong>Kerala, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh</strong> have already set up live‑monitoring dashboards; others, including <strong>Uttar Pradesh</strong>, are still developing systems.</li> <li>The Court reiterated its earlier directive (Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh, 2020) that every police station must have a functional CCTV system.</li> </ul> <h3>Important Facts</h3> <p>• The case originated on <strong>4 September 2025</strong> after a Dainik Bhaskar report linked eleven custodial deaths to non‑functional surveillance.<br> • Earlier judgments mandated CCTV installation, but compliance remained patchy, with many cameras either absent or defunct.<br> • The Court has sought answers on audit mechanisms, footage preservation periods, surprise inspections, and forensic tamper‑proofing.</p> <h3>UPSC Relevance</h3> <p>Understanding this development is crucial for GS 2 (Polity) and GS 3 (Governance). It illustrates judicial activism, the role of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Union Home Secretary — senior bureaucrat heading the Ministry of Home Affairs, responsible for internal security and police reforms (GS2: Polity)">Union Home Secretary</span> in implementing police‑reform policies, and the importance of technology‑driven accountability mechanisms in law‑enforcement agencies.</p> <h3>Way Forward</h3> <ul> <li>All states should adopt a uniform, centrally monitored CCTV dashboard, taking cues from the Kerala model.</li> <li>Regular audits and real‑time alerts must be institutionalised to prevent camera tampering.</li> <li>The Ministry of Home Affairs should issue a detailed implementation framework within the next fortnight, as promised by the AG.</li> <li>Parliamentary committees may be called upon to review compliance and recommend legislative amendments for mandatory surveillance standards.</li> </ul>

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