New Delhi: The Supreme Court has observed that automatic, independent control rooms are preferable for operating CCTV cameras in police stations across the country. The suggestion came while a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a case related to custodial deaths.
The court noted that although governments have filed affidavits claiming CCTV installation in police stations, there remains a possibility that officials may switch them off. Such interruptions, the bench warned, could lead to human rights violations. To prevent this, the court emphasized the need to minimize human interference in CCTV monitoring.
The bench further indicated that it is considering directions to set up control rooms without police presence. The possibility of involving IITs to design systems for independent monitoring of CCTV footage was also mentioned.
The court added that mechanisms must be put in place to detect when cameras are turned off. It is also examining whether independent agencies should be permitted to conduct inspections in police stations. The bench said, a detailed order on the matter will be issued on Monday.
