The Supreme Court has sharply criticised the Union Government and several State Governments for failing to comply with its 2020 order directing the installation of functional CCTV cameras—with night-vision capability and audio recording—in all police stations and offices of central investigating agencies.

Background:

A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta was hearing a suo motu matter triggered by a report showing 11 custodial deaths in Rajasthan in just eight months, even though the Supreme Court had already issued binding directions to install functional CCTV cameras in all police stations. Despite these directions, the cameras were still not installed.

The judges called custodial deaths a “blot on the system” and remarked that the Union government appeared to be taking the Court “too lightly”, noting that it had not even filed a proper compliance affidavit.

Justice Mehta recalled that all States and Union Territories had earlier been ordered to file compliance affidavits, but many had failed to do so. Amicus Curiae, Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, informed the Court that only 11 States had complied so far.

Justice Mehta praised Madhya Pradesh as a “model State” for its CCTV implementation- a characterisation that Amicus Curiae Siddhartha Dave agreed with. “Madhya Pradesh’s work is remarkable,” Justice Mehta observed.

The Bench then questioned why other States had remained silent. It expressed particular surprise that Kerala, known for its administrative efficiency, had not filed its report, asking: “Why is Kerala shying away? It’s such an advanced state.”

Dave also noted that even the Union had not filed its compliance affidavit. This led Justice Nath to ask,“The Union is taking the Court very lightly. Why?” Justice Mehta stressed the gravity of the situation, saying, “Not affidavit, compliance. There were 11 deaths in police stations in 8 months in Rajasthan. Custodial deaths. This will not be tolerated by the country. It is a blot on the system.”

During the hearing, the Bench also discussed prison reforms. Justice Mehta observed that open-air jails could help ease overcrowding and support rehabilitation, while Justice Nath added that such measures would also reduce the State’s financial burden.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union, undertook to file the required affidavit and sought three weeks’ time to ensure that all States and Union Territories submit their compliance affidavits. The Court granted this request.

The Bench noted that only 11 States had filed their compliance affidavits so far. It directed the Principal Secretary of the Home Department of the concerned States and Union Territories, as well as the heads of the respective agencies, to be present before the Court on the next hearing date if the affidavits are not filed by then. They will be required to explain both the earlier non-compliance and the failure to comply with the current order.

The next hearing is fixed for December 16.

Case Title: IN RE LACK OF FUNCTIONAL CCTVS IN POLICE STATIONS Versus, SMW(C) No. 7/2025