The Madhya Pradesh High Court mandated full CCTV coverage in all police station rooms, warning that any lapse will be treated as Contempt of Court. The directive came after a petition alleging police misconduct; the Court instructed the DGP to ensure complete surveillance and submit a compliance report by February 18, 2025.
Madhya Pradesh: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued a stern directive mandating complete CCTV coverage in every room of police stations across the state. The Court emphasized that any lapse in CCTV coverage will be treated as Contempt of Court. Justice G.S. Ahluwalia of the Jabalpur Bench declared,
“In future if it is found that in a Police Station an area was left outside the coverage area of CCTV camera, then such lapse shall be considered as Contempt of Court, and action shall be taken against the Superintendent of Police of the said District and also S.H.O. of concerning Police Station for Contempt of Court.”
This ruling came during the High Court’s review of a petition seeking action against police officers accused of conspiring to file a false FIR against the petitioner, allegedly to cover up police misconduct. Representing the petitioner, Advocate Abhishek Pandey argued that the petitioner was unlawfully detained and assaulted by police at Bhalumada Police Station in Anuppur district. The incident was reportedly unrecorded as the room where the petitioner was beaten was outside CCTV coverage.
The Court directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure that every room within police stations is equipped with CCTV cameras with audio recording. The order specified that the DGP must obtain reports from each district’s Superintendent of Police regarding the presence of “black spots” (areas without CCTV coverage) within three months.
The background of the case reveals disturbing allegations of police brutality and corruption. According to the petitioner, the dispute arose after villagers blocked trucks from a company where he was employed. When the petitioner questioned a police official present at the scene, he was allegedly asked for a bribe, which he refused. This led to physical assault by police officers and his subsequent detention in a CCTV-free room where he was allegedly beaten.
The High Court condemned the lack of adherence to the Supreme Court’s mandate in the Paramvir Singh case, which required comprehensive CCTV coverage within police stations. Justice Ahluwalia noted,
“It appears, that the Director General of Police did not take care of direction issued by this Court…to ensure that every room of the concerning Police Station is covered by the CCTV camera.”
The Court further ordered the DGP to submit an installation compliance report to the Registrar General of the High Court by February 18, 2025. Should this deadline be missed, the Registrar General has been instructed to initiate a separate contempt case.
In a clear message against negligence, the High Court also imposed a fine of Rs. 1,20,000 on the respondents, demonstrating its firm stance on police accountability. This ruling underscores the High Court’s commitment to preventing police misconduct through increased surveillance and accountability, aiming to protect the rights and safety of citizens across Madhya Pradesh.
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