CCTVs at police stations: Supreme Court sets deadline for compliance affidavits

The court agreed to the request of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre, to give three more weeks to respond.

Fixing the matter for hearing next on December 16, it said, “If by the said date, the affidavits are not filed, the Principal Secretary, Department of Home Affairs of the concerned States/Union Territories/the Directors of the respective agencies shall remain present before this court on the next date to explain the non-compliance of the previous orders as well as the present order.”

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, who is the amicus curiae in the matter, pointed out that only 11 affidavits had filed their affidavits. Justice Mehta then pointed out that “Madhya Pradesh’s work” in installing CCTVs at police stations “is remarkable”. Dave, too, said that “Madhya Pradesh is the model State” on the issue. The court wondered why Kerala had not responded yet. “Why is Kerala shying away? It’s such an advanced state,” said Justice Mehta.

Justice Nath also conveyed the court’s displeasure at the Centre not filing response and said “the Union is taking the Court very lightly. Why?”

Justice Mehta said the court wanted the governments and agencies to comply with the direction to install working CCTVs and that merely stating so on affidavit was not enough.