A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court has cautioned a jail warden after viewing CCTV footage of a June 26 incident in which he hit inmates with a stick, holding that beating inmates after the situation was under control was unnecessary and impermissible, and directed medical care for an appellant in the case who could not afford surgery for a fracture.
In its suo motu case on recent sexual offences in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court has directed Delhi authorities to complete, within four weeks, a police survey of vulnerable locations and an audit of lighting and CCTV, called for detailed status reports on women’s safety mechanisms, and sought an affidavit from the Delhi High Court on fast track and POCSO courts.
The Supreme Court Today (Feb 3) took strict action after Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia was mistreated in Gautam Budh Nagar District Court. During the hearing, the Uttar Pradesh government revealed that Rs 82 crores have been allocated for installing CCTV cameras in district courts to improve security and transparency. The court also criticized regular lawyer strikes, improper courtroom attire, and discrimination against advocates from other regions. A fresh notice was issued to the Bar Association, and officials were warned of serious consequences if they failed to respond. The Supreme Court Bar Association has strongly condemned the incident, calling for accountability.
The Orissa High Court directed that all police stations and out-posts must be fully equipped with CCTV cameras by March 31. Additionally, the court emphasized the strict acceptance to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the arrest of armed forces personnel by the police. These measures aim to enhance accountability and ensure proper protocol in law enforcement practices.
The Delhi High Court supported reducing the mandatory 70% attendance requirement for law courses, urging the Bar Council of India to reconsider this baseline. The judges highlighted the need for a flexible approach, acknowledging students’ commitments, and raising concerns about attendance tracking methods. Improvements in students’ mental health and grievance mechanisms were also emphasized.