Supreme Court Seeks Status on Installation of CCTV Cameras in Police Station from the Chief Secretary of States and Union Territories [READ ORDER]

On September 16, 2020, Supreme Court while hearing the SLP in the case of Paramveer Singh Saini v. Baljeet Singh and Ors, directed the Chief Secretary of each State and Union Territories for a report to find out the exact position of CCTV cameras in each Police Stations and also the constitution of Oversight Committee which is in accordance with the order passed by the Supreme Court in the case of Shafhi Mohammad v. State of Himachal Pradesh dated 03.04.2018.  

In Shafhi Mohammad v. State of Himachal Pradesh (2018) 5 SCC 311, the Supreme Court directed that in the first phase there should be the implementation of crime scene videography must be introduced by July 15, 2020, it should be according to the viability and priority determined by the department. The court also said that CCTV cameras should be installed in all police stations as well as prisons to keep a check on the human rights abuse by police officers. 

The Supreme Court directed the Registry to issue a notice to the Chief Secretary of all States and Union Territories and ask response in the following two points:- 

1. What exactly is the position of the CCTV camera fitted in each and every police station in the State and Union Territory? 

2. What is the position constitution of the oversight committee which is in accordance with our order dated April 3, 2018.

 The Supreme Court while issuing notice on a petition asked about the implementation of the audio-video recording of witness statement recorded by the police officer under Section 161 Criminal Procedure Code,1973, the bench has observed that it is mandatory to "follow up" the directions issued by the Court in 

Shafhi Mohammad case. The court-appointed senior advocate Siddharth Dave as Amicus Curie in this case. Amicus Curie is appointed by the Court to assist in the matter in which a person has the expertise, provides information related to the case and he is not the party to the suit. 

“We call upon all the States and Union Territories in order to find out the exact position of CCTV camera in its police station…. we also expect the Chief Secretary of the States and Union Territory to take this matter seriously and in right earnest, since it involves the fundamental rights of the citizen under Article 21 of Constitution of India, 1950 " the bench said on Wednesday. The Court directed that all the reports should be submitted before the next date of hearing which is November 24, 2020.

 [READ ORDER]