Custodial deaths: SC initiates suo motu PIL over lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across India

Taking cognisance of a news report about custodial deaths, the Supreme Court on Thursday initiated a suo motu PIL on lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across India.

“We are directing for a suo motu public interest litigation titled 'lack of functional CCTVs in police stations', as it has been reported that there have been 11 deaths in police custody in the last seven to eight months in 2025," a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said.

In a move aimed at checking police brutality, the Supreme Court on December 2, 2020 ordered the Centre, states and union territories to instal CCTVs with night vision cameras in each police station, including central probe agencies such as the 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 instal CCTV cameras and recording equipment in the offices of the CBI, NIA, ED, NCB, DRI, SFIO and any other agency which carries out interrogations and has the power of arrest," a Bench headed by Justice RF Rohinton (since retired) had said.

The CCTV systems "must be equipped with night vision and must necessarily consist of audio as well as video footage". The SHO of the police station concerned shall be responsible for the working, maintenance and recording of CCTVs, it had said.

The top court had also ordered the constitution of oversight committees at state and district levels for the purpose.

In areas without electricity and/or internet, the states/UTs have to provide the same as expeditiously as possible using any mode of providing electricity, including solar/wind power, it had said.

The 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.

The top court had said CCTV camera footage should be stored in digital video recorders and/or network video recorders. Importantly, the recording system should be such that the data stored therein is preserved for 18 months.

"If the recording equipment, available in the market today, does not have the capacity to keep the recording for 18 months but for a lesser period of time, it shall be mandatory for all states, Union Territories and the Central government to purchase one which allows storage for the maximum period possible," it had noted.

In case of serious injury and/or custodial deaths, the injured persons will be free to complain to the State Human Rights Commission as also to Human Rights Courts, which must be set up in each district of every state/UT under Section 30 of the Human Rights Act, the top court had said.