The Supreme Court of India has recently taken suo motu cognizance of custodial deaths in Rajasthan and the non-functional state of CCTV cameras in police stations. This intervention highlights the Court’s continuing concern about human rights violations in custody and the need for strict compliance with earlier judicial directions mandating CCTV surveillance in police stations.
Over the first eight months of 2025, Rajasthan reported 11 custodial deaths, with seven occurring in the Udaipur division. In several of these cases, CCTV footage was either unavailable or denied by the police on grounds such as malfunctioning cameras or insufficient storage.
This development drew the attention of the Supreme Court, which recalled its earlier orders:
- 2018 Direction – mandating CCTV installation in every police station.
- 2020 Judgment – requiring that cameras cover key areas such as lock-ups, entry/exit points, and corridors, with both video and audio capability, night vision, and adequate data storage.
Despite these clear directions, compliance in Rajasthan has been inadequate, prompting the present action.
Key Directions of the Supreme Court
The Court has now issued a series of directions aimed at ensuring meaningful compliance:
- Compliance Report
- The Rajasthan government must file a detailed affidavit through its Additional Advocate General and Director General of Police within two weeks.
- The report must include district-wise data on the number of cameras installed, their locations, specifications (resolution, audio, night vision), data retention periods, and coverage of mandatory areas.
- Maintenance & Monitoring
- The state must explain how cameras are maintained, how malfunctions are addressed, and what backup systems exist.
- Information on connectivity, centralized dashboards, and safeguards for footage integrity must also be furnished.
- Technological Oversight
- The Court has suggested creating automated control rooms to monitor CCTV systems without human intervention, where alerts are generated if cameras go offline or tampering occurs.
- The involvement of institutions such as IITs has been proposed to design or strengthen such systems.
- Next Steps
- The matter is scheduled for further hearing on October 14, 2025, when the compliance affidavit will be reviewed.
Legal Significance
This direction has far-reaching implications:
- Protection of Fundamental Rights: CCTV compliance is directly tied to the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
- Enforcement of Judicial Orders: The case underscores the challenges in ensuring that previous Supreme Court orders are implemented at the ground level.
- Transparency & Accountability: Properly functioning CCTVs can deter custodial torture, assist in investigating misconduct, and strengthen public trust.
Challenges in Implementation
- Infrastructure Gaps: Many rural police stations lack stable electricity and internet connectivity.
- Maintenance Issues: Even where cameras are installed, they often remain non-functional due to poor upkeep.
- Data Storage & Retrieval: Large amounts of audio-visual data require robust and secure systems for preservation and access.
- Privacy & Access: Clear guidelines are needed to regulate who can access CCTV footage and under what conditions.
Way Forward
The Supreme Court’s push for technological monitoring—possibly involving AI-driven oversight and alerts—marks a shift toward ensuring accountability through innovation. However, effective implementation will require:
- Budgetary allocation for infrastructure and maintenance,
- Independent audits of compliance,
- Transparent SOPs for footage access, and
- Accountability for officers who fail to maintain surveillance systems.
The Supreme Court’s intervention in Rajasthan highlights the persistent gap between judicial directives and ground realities. While the mandate for CCTV coverage in police stations has existed for years, lax implementation continues to undermine its purpose. If the proposed compliance measures, automated monitoring, and technical involvement are effectively carried out, this could become a landmark step toward greater accountability in policing and the protection of human rights across India.
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