Today, On 4th September, The Supreme Court has registered a suo motu PIL over non-functional CCTV cameras in police stations after a Dainik Bhaskar report revealed 11 custodial deaths in the last 7 to 8 months, raising serious concerns on accountability.
The Supreme Court took the initiative to register a case suo motu regarding the absence of operational CCTV cameras in police stations.
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta launched the case in response to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, which highlighted that there have been 11 deaths in police custody over the past 7 to 8 months.
The Court stated,
“Based on Dainik Bhaskar, we are directing for a suo motu public interest litigation titled ‘lack of functional CCTVs in police stations’, as it has been reported that there are 11 deaths in the last 7-8 months in the year 2025 in police custody.”
Also Read: “CCTV Coverage in Every Police Station Room Is Mandatory”: Madhya Pradesh HC Warns
The Supreme Court had previously mandated the installation of CCTV cameras in police stations in a landmark ruling from 2020, delivered by Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman, KM Joseph, and Aniruddha Bose.
This ruling required all States and Union Territories (UTs) to install CCTV systems equipped with night vision capabilities in every police station across the nation.
Additionally, the Court instructed the Central government to implement CCTV surveillance in the offices of various central agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), and other offices where interrogations occur.
In that judgment, the apex court also specified that the installed CCTV systems “must be equipped with night vision and must necessarily consist of audio as well as video footage.”
For regions lacking electricity and/or internet, it is the responsibility of States/UTs to provide these utilities as swiftly as possible, potentially using alternative energy sources like solar or wind power.
The Court further indicated that in cases of serious injury or custodial death, individuals could file complaints with Human Rights Courts, which would then be able to summon the CCTV footage for preservation.
This footage should be made accessible to victims in instances of human rights violations, as stated by the Court.
Despite these clear directives, police authorities have frequently cited issues like missing footage or malfunctioning cameras when asked to provide recorded evidence.
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