Supreme Court reserves order on Rajasthan custodial deaths amid concerns over non-functional CCTVs in police stations, emphasizing the need for real-time monitoring and accountability in law enforcement.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Monday reserved its orders in a suo motu case concerning custodial deaths and the absence of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across Rajasthan. The case emerged after alarming media reports highlighted that 11 people had died in police custody in the state within just eight months of 2025.
A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta heard the matter, taking cognizance of a report published in Dainik Bhaskar, which revealed that seven of the 11 deaths occurred in Udaipur division alone. The report further noted that in August 2025, two bullion traders died while in custody at Kankroli Police Station (Rajsamand district) and Rishabhdev Police Station (Udaipur district).
Custodial Deaths and CCTV Non-Compliance
Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, assisting the Court, pointed out that while some states had complied with earlier directions on CCTV installation, several others, including central agencies such as the NIA, ED, and CBI, had failed to follow through.
He emphasized that custodial torture and abuse remain grave concerns, extending beyond custodial deaths. Justice Mehta echoed these worries, stressing the need for real-time monitoring rather than mere compliance affidavits.
“The issue is of oversight. Today there may be compliance affidavit, tomorrow officers may switch off cameras. We were thinking of a control room without human intervention. If any camera goes off, it should raise a flag,”
Justice Mehta observed.
The Bench further suggested that independent agencies or even IITs could be involved to devise a mechanism for automated monitoring of CCTV footage to prevent tampering and ensure accountability.
Background: The 2020 Landmark Judgment
This development comes nearly five years after the Supreme Court’s landmark 2020 judgment (delivered by Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman, KM Joseph, and Aniruddha Bose), which had made CCTV installation mandatory in all police stations across the country.
The 2020 ruling also directed the Union Government to install CCTV cameras in the offices of premier investigative agencies, including:
- CBI
- NIA
- Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
- Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
- Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)
Importantly, the Court mandated that all systems must be equipped with night vision, audio and video recording, and that in cases of custodial violence or death, victims or their families could approach Human Rights Courts to access CCTV footage.
However, compliance has remained inconsistent and inadequate, with authorities often citing “non-functional cameras” or “missing footage” when accountability is sought in custodial violence cases.
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Case Title:
In Re: Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations