Gurugram: File affidavit on CCTV directive, HC tells Police Dept

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, February 17

The Haryana Police has landed itself in dock over the issue of installing CCTV cameras at a Gurugram police station in accordance with the Supreme Court directions.

Areas to be covered in police stations

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Apex Court directions were to the extent of installing cameras at the main gates of the police stations, entry-exit points, in all lock-ups, corridors, lobby, reception areas, verandas, out-houses, officials’ rooms, outside the lock-up rooms, station hall and in front of the police station compound. The cameras were also to be installed outside washrooms and toilets

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has called for an affidavit as to why the orders have not been complied with.

The direction came just over a fortnight after Justice Alka Sarin directed the state counsel to file an affidavit, stating whether CCTV cameras, having audio and video recording facilities, had been installed at the Gurugram police station.

The Bench was told that the petitioner was being forced to “sign something he had not stated” and had been harassed by the police. The state counsel, on the other hand, had stated that the petitioner and a lawyer had misbehaved with the investigating officer. The petitioner had also not been joining investigation. Justice Sarin had observed allegations and counter-allegations were being made while directing the filing of the initial affidavit.

Justice Sarin was hearing a “protection petition” filed against the state by Ankit Bhargava through counsel Mahir Sood. As the matter came up for resumed hearing, a status report by Assistant Commissioner of Police, DLF, Gurugram, Dharamvir Singh, was placed before the Bench by State counsel Kirpal Singh Thakur.

Justice Sarin observed that it stated CCTV cameras were installed at 22 places in the police station concerned. But the data of the CCTV cameras was stored only for 15 days and the petitioner’s interrogation was not captured by the cameras. The affidavit added that there was no provision for audio recording.

Justice Sarin referred to the directions issued by the Supreme Court in the case of “Paramvir Singh Saini versus Baljit Singh”. Among other things, the apex court directions were to the extent of installing cameras at the main gates of the police stations, the entry and exit points, in all lock-ups, corridors, lobby, reception areas, verandas, out-houses, officials’ rooms, outside the lock-up rooms, station hall and in front of the police station compound. The cameras were also to be installed outside washrooms and toilets.

Before parting with the order, Justice Sarin directed: “Let an affidavit be filed as to why, despite orders passed by the Supreme Court in the cases referred to, compliance of the same has not been made and CCTV cameras installed in the police station, firstly do not cover the entire police station; secondly, do not have the facility of capturing audio; and thirdly, why the data of the CCTV cameras is only maintained for 15 days.”

The case will now come up in February last week.