The question of mandatory body cameras for police at protests now sits with the government: the Delhi High Court has declined to direct them for Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel and asked that the PIL be treated as a representation.
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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to order Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel to wear body cameras compulsorily while on duty to control protests. It asked the government to consider the public interest litigation as a representation and to take a decision on framing a standard operating procedure [Chahat Raghav v. Union of India and Others].
A Division Bench headed by the Acting Chief Justice heard the PIL, which was filed by Advocate Chahat Raghav.
Left to the executive
No mandatory direction was issued. The Court instead left the matter to the executive, asking the government to treat the PIL as a representation and decide whether to frame an SOP on body cameras for protest duty.
What the petition wanted
The petition asked for a binding, always-on body-worn camera regime for police and RAF personnel engaged in crowd-control duties. Counsel submitted that such a direction was essential because allegations of excessive force keep surfacing, adding that he was not referring to any particular allegation or incident.
Policy first, courts later
The order reflects a preference to leave policy on police equipment and protocols to the executive in the first instance, while keeping the issue alive through the direction that the representation be considered. Whether an SOP follows now rests with the government. The Court has expressed no view on any allegation of force at past protests.
Case Title: Chahat Raghav v. Union of India and Others (PIL)
Bench: Division Bench headed by the Acting Chief Justice, Delhi High Court
Date of Order: October 7, 2026