The Supreme Court is examining gaps in CCTV installation at police stations, including Jharkhand’s reported failure to install cameras since 2020.
About the Case
In Re: Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations is a suo motu public interest matter registered by the Supreme Court on September 4, 2025, as SMW(C) No. 7/2025. The Court took cognisance of a Dainik Bhaskar report concerning 11 custodial deaths in Rajasthan over a period of eight months, including seven deaths in the Udaipur division.
The matter is being heard by a Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta. Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave is assisting the Court as Amicus Curiae. The proceedings have brought renewed attention to compliance with the Supreme Court’s earlier directions requiring CCTV cameras in police stations and offices of investigative agencies.
Background of the Case
The present proceedings build on the Supreme Court’s judgment in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh & Ors., decided on December 2, 2020. The judgment was delivered by a Bench comprising Justices R.F. Nariman, K.M. Joseph and Aniruddha Bose.
The 2020 judgment directed the Union, all States and Union Territories to make budgetary provision for and install CCTV cameras in every police station and offices of investigative agencies. The direction was part of a broader concern regarding the protection of individuals in police custody and during investigation.
The Court’s directions also built on its earlier decision in Shafhi Mohammad v. State of Himachal Pradesh, reported in (2018) 5 SCC 311. The CCTV requirement was grounded in the protection of life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Despite the 2020 mandate, compliance across States remained uneven. The issue before the Court has consequently shifted from simply requiring CCTV installation to examining whether the mandated systems are actually available and functional.
Facts of the Case
At the hearing on September 3-4, 2026, Amicus Curiae Siddharth Dave told the Supreme Court that Jharkhand had “not had one CCTV since 2020.” This was a submission made to the Court by the Amicus and is not a judicial finding that has been finally adjudicated.
The Union Government’s affidavit, filed on August 31, 2026, provides details concerning Jharkhand’s proposal for establishing a CCTV monitoring system. According to the affidavit, Jharkhand submitted a proposal dated July 22, 2026 seeking approximately ₹112.50 crore, combining the Central and State shares, for a “Centralized Dashboard/Monitoring system for CCTV cameras for all Police Stations.”
The proposal was examined by the Centre and was found not to be in accordance with the standards of the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D). Jharkhand was then asked to furnish the requisite information so that the proposal could be appraised further. According to the Union’s affidavit, the State had not furnished the information sought by the Centre as of August 3, 2026.
The affidavit states that once a revised proposal conforming to BPR&D norms is received, a meeting would be planned with Jharkhand.
The issue is also connected to a wider national funding position. As of August 1, 2026, ₹450 crore was available under the ASUMP scheme for all States and Union Territories, while only ₹225 crore had been utilised. CCTV-related proposals across the country amounted to ₹1,453.85 crore, of which ₹814.25 crore had not been considered, was restricted, deferred or otherwise not approved.
Legal Issues Involved
The proceedings raise the question of whether States and Union Territories have complied with the Supreme Court’s 2020 directions requiring CCTV cameras to be installed in police stations and investigative-agency offices.
The proceedings also bring into focus the implementation of those directions where funding is available but CCTV systems have not been installed or are not functional. In Jharkhand’s case, the Court is examining the State’s position alongside the objections and information placed before it by the Union and the Amicus Curiae.
The matter further concerns the use of existing funds under the ASUMP scheme while the Centre considers a new police-modernisation framework that is expected to include CCTV infrastructure.
Judgment / Outcome
The Supreme Court has not concluded the proceedings. During the September 3-4, 2026 hearing, Justice Sandeep Mehta questioned why funds already available under ASUMP should be allowed to “go dormant” while the Centre finalises a new scheme. The Court indicated that existing balance funds should be considered for identified shortfalls.
Justice Mehta also indicated that the Court would give the Centre a “push” at the next hearing if there was any difficulty in re-approving funds for state-specific requirements.
Additional Solicitor General Raja Thakare, appearing for the Union, stated that it was not feasible to provide component-specific details at that stage. He also stated that the proposed new scheme, the Police Modernisation Mission, would contain adequate provisions for CCTV cameras.
Justice Vikram Nath specifically asked the ASG to indicate the Centre’s position concerning Jharkhand and the objections raised by the Amicus Curiae.
The Court directed the ASG to obtain further instructions within two weeks and listed the matter for further hearing.
Significance / Impact
The proceedings demonstrate that the Supreme Court’s 2020 CCTV mandate continues to have practical consequences years after the original directions were issued. The focus is no longer limited to the existence of a legal requirement; the Court is also examining whether the necessary infrastructure and funding mechanisms are actually reaching police stations.
Jharkhand’s position has emerged as a specific concern in the current proceedings. The Amicus Curiae’s submission regarding the absence of CCTV since 2020, together with the Union’s account of the State’s ₹112.50-crore proposal and its objections under BPR&D standards, has placed the State’s compliance directly before the Court.
The funding position also raises a broader implementation question. The ASUMP scheme has been extended until March 31, 2027, and ₹450 crore was available for States and Union Territories as of August 1, 2026, but only half of that amount had been utilised. At the same time, the Centre is seeking approval for a new five-year umbrella scheme, the Police Modernisation Mission, proposed at ₹24,000 crore and still at the conceptual stage.
The next hearing is therefore expected to clarify the Centre’s position on Jharkhand and the utilisation or re-approval of funds for CCTV-related requirements.
