The Madhya Pradesh High Court urged authorities to equip police officers with body cameras for better accountability and transparency. The court further directed that if any SHO or responsible police official fails to provide requested CCTV footage, a departmental inquiry should be initiated. This move aims to ensure proper oversight of police actions.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court issued a directive to equip police officers in the state with body cameras and to increase the police force’s manpower.
The order passed by Justice Subodh Abhyankar while ruling on a bail application of an accused who claimed that the police falsely implicated him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The High Court, while granting bail to an accused named Nirmal, observed serious lapses by the concerned police station in providing CCTV footage. Nirmal claimed that he was arrested earlier than recorded, and the case was registered afterwards.
The Court noted,
“This court is also of the considered opinion that the time has come when the State Government should also give a thought to providing body cameras to police personnel, at least to the police force of some of the police stations in major cities, in addition to increasing the number of police personnel.”
After granting bail, the Court also inquired about the current practices for maintaining CCTV cameras installed in police stations.
In response, it was informed that the Supreme Court’s guidelines were being followed, and a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) had been implemented from January 2024. It also submitted that the CCTVs installed in police stations have sufficient capacity to store data for at least one year.
However, the Court remarked that all the hardware and SOPs for maintaining the system are “meaningless if they are not implemented in letter and spirit.”
The Court further observed that the SOP lacks provisions for penal consequences in cases of non-adherence.
After reviewing a rule suggesting departmental action, the Court stated,
“The aforesaid proposed disciplinary action, in the considered opinion of this court, is a mere eye wash and totally inadequate to make any impact on the police officer concerned.”
The Court further emphasized that if the individuals responsible for maintaining the CCTVs and ensuring their continuous operation fail to carry out their duties with honesty and diligence,
“All the SOPs and hardware become an empty formality at the cost of the public exchequer, and also hinders the administration of justice.”
To ensure proper compliance, the Court invoked its inherent jurisdiction, directing that if any failure to provide CCTV footage occurs, a departmental inquiry should be initiated against the concerned SHO or responsible police official. If found guilty, such negligence should be treated as major misconduct and punished accordingly.
The Court stressed,
“It must be understood that the CCTV cameras in police stations have been directed to be installed to ensure the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights and to prevent police atrocities in the station/custody. Thus, any negligence or dereliction of duties in carrying out this procedure shall be treated as a serious lapse in performing duties,”
The Court also instructed the State Level Oversight Committee and District Level Oversight Committee to fulfill their roles as prescribed by the Supreme Court, meeting at least once a month with minutes kept for record.
The order was to be sent to the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh, and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Radio, Bhopal, for proper compliance and communication to all police stations in the state.
Advocate Abhishek Rathore represented the applicant, while Advocate Apoorv Joshi appeared for the State.
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