Delhi: No CCTVs in most police stations, claims PIL in HC

New Delhi, Oct 9: The issue of alleged absence of 100 per cent CCTV coverage of police stations in the national capital, raised through a plea, prompted the Delhi High Court to seek the response of the Centre and the Delhi government.

A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Sunil Gaur issued notice to the Delhi Police also and sought its stand on the application, which claims that even the cameras installed in a few police stations were obsolete as they did not have the recording feature.

The application has been filed in a public interest litigation (PIL) initiated by the high court on the issue of women's safety after the December 16, 2012 gangrape of a young woman in a moving bus in the city. It has also alleged that there were several deaths inside the police stations in the city this year and said that the presence of functional CCTV cameras could act as a deterrent.

One of the aspects being considered by the high court in the PIL is the installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations and 'chowkis' (posts) in the capital city. The applicant, Ajay Gautam, seeking to be made a part of the PIL proceedings, has contended that CCTVs were required in the police stations "to ensure transparency" in their functioning.

The application alleges that the conduct of the police on the issue highlights its "unplanned and casual approach", apart from "wastage of public money" by installing CCTVs without the recording feature. The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 2.

PTI