The Supreme Court's landmark 2020 directive mandating CCTV installation with audio recording in all police stations continues to face massive non-compliance across India, according to a recent report submitted to the court. Despite clear orders aimed at preventing custodial torture and ensuring transparency, numerous states and central agencies have failed to implement the measures.
Widespread Non-Compliance Across States
A comprehensive report filed by Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave as amicus curiae reveals that as of November 22, the Centre, 19 states, and seven Union Territories have not submitted their compliance affidavits following the court's October order. The list of defaulting jurisdictions includes major states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Delhi, highlighting the extensive nature of the implementation gap.
The report was presented before a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta in the ongoing Paramvir Singh Saini case. The Supreme Court had originally issued its groundbreaking judgment in 2020, requiring all police stations nationwide to install CCTV cameras equipped with night vision and audio recording capabilities.
Compliance Divide Among States and Agencies
Only 13 states and five Union Territories have fully complied with the Supreme Court's directions regarding both budgetary allocations and complete installation of surveillance systems. These compliant regions include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Uttarakhand, along with the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.
In contrast, the Centre, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir have failed both to allocate necessary funds and adhere to the prescribed installation timeline. Another 14 states and two Union Territories have allocated budgets but missed the deadline for completing CCTV installation across all police stations.
Central Agencies Under Scanner
The report particularly highlights the non-compliance by prominent central investigating agencies. While organizations like the Narcotics Control Bureau and Serious Fraud Investigation Office have followed the court's directives, the Union government has neither allocated funds nor provided implementation timelines for installing cameras in the offices of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Technical compliance issues further complicate the situation. The amicus curiae report identified five specific instances in Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands where installed CCTV systems either clearly lacked the mandatory tamper detection feature or authorities failed to confirm its availability. This crucial feature prevents manipulation of footage by officials.
Among the submitted affidavits, several revealed significant logistical challenges. The Manipur government reported complete installation in 78 police stations but acknowledged inability to equip eight stations due to the prevailing situation and technical staff's inability to access those locations.
States like Bihar and Jharkhand have sanctioned substantial funds amounting to Rs 280 crore and Rs 67 crore respectively but haven't provided timelines for installing equipment in newly established police stations.
Supreme Court's Final Warning
Responding to these widespread deficiencies, the Supreme Court has granted a final three-week extension to defaulting states and the Centre to file their compliance affidavits. The bench issued a stern warning that failure to meet this deadline would require principal secretaries and directors of respective agencies to appear personally at the next hearing scheduled for December 16.
The ongoing non-compliance raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability in police stations across India, particularly regarding the prevention of custodial torture and human rights violations that the original Supreme Court order aimed to address.
