The Supreme Court reprimanded the Central Government for failing to install CCTV cameras in police stations

New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Tuesday strongly reprimanded the Central Government for failing to install CCTV cameras in all police stations despite its orders. Expressing displeasure with both the Central and State governments, the apex court said that all governments have failed to comply with the 2020 order. Regarding the lack of CCTV cameras in police stations across the country, the bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said that custodial violence and deaths are “a blot on the system” that the country will not tolerate.

Commenting further on the matter, the incoming CJI, Justice Nath, said that the Central Government is taking the Supreme Court “too lightly” and has not even filed an affidavit of compliance with its earlier orders. The bench also cited its order in this case and noted that 11 deaths in police custody have occurred in Rajasthan in eight months. Hearing a suo motu case concerning the lack of CCTV cameras in police stations, the bench said, “The country will no longer tolerate this. This is a blot on the system. You cannot allow deaths in custody.”

Why was the affidavit not filed?
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that no one can justify or attempt to justify custodial deaths. The bench also asked the Central Government why it had not filed a compliance affidavit in this case. Justice Vikram Nath asked, “The Central Government is taking this court very lightly. Why?” Solicitor General Mehta replied that he was not appearing in the suo motu case, but no one can take the court lightly. He said that the Central Government would file a compliance affidavit within three weeks.

Why was the affidavit not filed?
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that no one can justify or even attempt to justify custodial deaths. The bench also asked the Centre why it had not filed a compliance affidavit in the matter. Justice Vikram Nath asked, “The Centre is taking this court so lightly. Why?” To this, Solicitor General Mehta said that he was not appearing in the suo motu case, but no one can take the court lightly. He said that the Centre would file a compliance affidavit within three weeks.

11 Deaths in Police Custody in Rajasthan in 8 Months
In September, the apex court took suo motu cognizance of a media report that stated that 11 people died in police custody in Rajasthan in the first eight months of 2025. Seven of these cases were from the Udaipur division. In a separate case, the apex court had ordered the installation of CCTV cameras in police stations in 2018 to prevent human rights violations. During the hearing, the bench also heard arguments from senior advocate Siddharth Dave, who is assisting the apex court as amicus curiae in a separate case. The apex court had passed an order in this matter in December 2020.

In that order, the top court had directed the Centre to install CCTV cameras and recording devices in the offices of investigating agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Dave told the bench on Tuesday that he had filed a report in the case in which the order was passed in December 2020. The bench asked, “On the last date, we had asked some specific questions to all the states and union territories. Have they responded?”

Only 11 States Filed Compliance Affidavits
The bench was informed that only 11 states had filed compliance affidavits in the suo motu case. Dave pointed out that many states had not filed compliance affidavits in the earlier case either. The bench noted that Madhya Pradesh has taken steps, and every police station and outpost in the state is connected to a centralized hub located at the district control room. The bench said, “This is remarkable.” Dave pointed out that three central investigating agencies have installed CCTV cameras, but the other three have not yet complied with the Supreme Court’s directive.

It’s the court’s decision, we are bound.
Mehta said, “It’s the court’s decision, we are bound. But even having CCTV inside police stations can be detrimental to the investigation. Now that the decision has come, we cannot argue.” The bench noted that live streaming of footage occurs in the United States. The Solicitor General said, “There are private prisons in the United States, which offer almost resort-level facilities.” The bench said it was already considering the issue of open prisons. “You don’t need any other arrangement. This is the best solution to many problems, such as prison overcrowding and regular complaints of violence,” the bench said. The bench also said it would help reduce the financial burden.

Next hearing on December 16
The court granted three weeks to states and union territories that had not yet filed compliance affidavits and scheduled the matter for hearing on December 16. The bench said that if the remaining states and union territories do not file compliance affidavits by that date, their principal secretaries in the Home Departments will appear before the court with their respective explanations for non-compliance with the orders.