Gujarat High Court premises lack CCTV cameras despite its own directive

The Gujarat High Court premises remain unmonitored despite the court’s order in 2023 mandating the installation of CCTV cameras in every corner, every table, the corridors, and important places.

Criticising the non-compliance of court’s order in its own premises, Justice Sandeep N Bhatt accused Registrar (IT) and other concerned officials for creating obstacles in compliance with the order and for deliberately delaying the process, describing this attitude as ‘red-tapism’. 

Justice Bhatt clearly stated that such “excessive delay and failure to complete the process of complying with the high court’s order is unacceptable under any circumstances”.

The court observed that this delay in installing CCTV cameras can only be compared with the working style of certain government departments and institutions, where such conduct is nothing but red-tapism. 

Earlier, during the hearing of a case at the end of 2023, Justice Bhatt himself had passed an order to install CCTV cameras at every table, every corner of the registry, corridors, and other important areas of the High court premises. However, since that order has not been complied with till date, the court had sought a report from the Registrar General.

On reading the report, Justice Bhatt expressed surprise and displeasure, particularly over the delaying approach of Registrar (IT) and other concerned officials in implementing the order. The High Court noted in its order that though the process of installing CCTV cameras had begun, it was excessively delayed and still remains incomplete.

The purpose of the high court’s order was to ensure transparency in the functioning of the state’s highest court, so that any irregularities could be traced through CCTV footage if needed. 

The registry initially presented this order before the relevant committees, and both the Purchase Committee and the IT Committee of the court had approved it. However, it appears that later the Registrar (IT), at the relevant stage, misguided the concerned persons and allegedly attempted to push the matter under the carpet.

The court further remarked that when both the HC and the Supreme Court insist on the implementation of CCTV cameras in police stations, highways, important roads, key institutions, and government offices, then such an inordinate delay in complying with an order passed by the high court itself for installing CCTV within its own premises is incomprehensible.