SC pulls up Centre for delay in installation of CCTV cameras in offices of CBI, NIA, ED

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 2

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Centre for “dragging its feet” over installation of CCTV cameras in the offices of investigating agencies such as CBI, ED and NIA even as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought more time to implement the court’s December 2 order.

“We are getting a distinct impression that you (government) are dragging your feet,” a Bench headed by Justice RF Nariman told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Noting that the issue concerned the rights of citizens, the top court said it was not ready to accept the excuses offered in the Centre’s letter seeking adjournment.

In a move aimed at checking police brutality, the Supreme Court had on December 2 last year ordered the Centre, States and Union Territories to install CCTVs with night vision cameras in each police station, including central probe agencies such as CBI, ED, NIA, etc. across India.

"The State and Union Territory Governments should ensure that CCTV cameras are installed in each and every police station functioning in the respective State and/or Union Territory. In addition, the Union of India is also directed to install CCTV cameras and recording equipment in the offices of CBI, NIA, ED, NCB, DRI, SFIO and any other agency which carries out interrogations and has the power of arrest," it had said.

On Tuesday, Mehta sought adjournment of the case as the issue may have ramifications.

“We are not concerned about the ramifications…This concerns the rights of citizens…We are not accepting the excuses,” the top court told the Solicitor General and sought to know about allocation of funds for installation of CCTVs in the offices of the central probe agencies.

After perusing a report placed before it by senior advocate and amicus curiae Siddharth Dave on the timeline of different states to comply with its direction, the court gave three weeks to the Centre to file an affidavit on the issue.

The December 2, 2020 order had come in a case relating to CCTV installation in police stations and examination of witnesses by police. The CCTV installation was revived by the top court following a case of custodial torture in Punjab.